A comparative review of Somalia’s controversial Sexual Offences Bills

/0 Comments/in , /by

There has been controversy surrounding the development of new legislation in Somalia addressing sexual offences, at a time when incidences of rape and other sexual violence have become rampant and impunity is pervasive. Two different bills on sexual offences have been drafted by different sources. However, the content and implications of each bill have not been adequately explained in public, leading to tensions fed by confusion and misapprehension rather than informed discussion. This brief outlines the content of each bill and draws out the key comparisons and differences. It recommends harmonizing the two bills, conducting wider public awareness activities on the proposed legislation, aligning the legislation to Somalia’s Penal Code, and strengthening the judiciary, police, and prosecution institutions.

Download the full governance brief

Muran ayaa ka taagnaa u sameynta sharci cusub Soomaaliya oo wax looga qabanayo dembiyada galmada, xilli dhacdooyinka kufsiga iyo xadgudubyada kale ee galmada ay noqdeen kuwo aad u baahsan. Laba hindise- sharciyeed oo kala duwan oo ku saabsan dembiyada galmada ayey diyaariyeen xafiisyo kala duwan. Nuxurka iyo saameynta nindise- sharciyeed kasta si fiican looguma sharrixin dadweynaha, taasoo horseedday xiisado ku qotama jahwareer iyo fahan-xumo halkii ay habooneyd dood xog-ogaalnimo ku dhisan in laga yeesho. Qoraalkan wuxuu qeexayaa waxa ku qoran hindise-sharciyeed kasta wuxuuna soo bandhigayaa isbarbardhigyada iyo kala duwanaanshiyaha muhiimka ah. Qormadu waxey ku talineysaa in la is waafajiyo labada hindise-sharciyeed, in la sameeyo wacyigelin ballaaran oo ku saabsan sharciga lagu taliyey, in sharciga la waafajiyo Xeerka Ciqaabta Soomaaliya, lana xoojiyo garsoorka, booliska, iyo hay’adaha dacwad-oogista.

Soo rogo warbixinta oo dhameystiran

2020: Somali Public Agenda’s Year in Review

/0 Comments/in , /by

2020 has been a challenging but productive year for Somali Public Agenda. Despite the disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic and other problems for Somalia this year, SPA was able to navigate through and managed to publish 16 papers in total, including reports, briefs, and commentaries. Our production was four publications higher than our 12 pieces in 2019. Of the 16 publications, 10 were commentaries, 4 were governance briefs, and 2 were research reports. Read more

Youth inclusion and participation in Somali politics: challenges and opportunities

/0 Comments/in /by

Somalia is a youthful country with a high fertility rate. Approximately 70% of the population is under the age of 30, and more than 60% of the population is under the age of 25. With this huge youth population, young people at working age suffer from the impacts of a high unemployment rate, which is estimated to stand at 60%; one of the highest in the world. Read more

Dhallinyarada iyo ka qeybgalka siyaasadda Soomaaliya: caqabadaha iyo fursadaha

/0 Comments/in /by

Soomaaliya waa dal ay dhallinyarada u badan tahay heerka tarankuna uu sarreeyo. Qiyaastii 70% dadku waxay ka yar yihiin 30 sano, in ka badan 60% dadku waxay ka yar yihiin 25 sano. Tirada badan ee dhallinyrada ah, waxay keentay in dhallinyarada da’da shaqada gaaray ay u dhibaatoodaan shaqo la’aan heerkeeda lagu qiyaaso 60%; Soomaaliyana ka dhigay mid kamid ah dalalka ugu sarreeya shaqo la’aanta adduunka. Read more

Training female researchers in Mogadishu

/0 Comments/in , /by

Research in Somalia is often male-dominated. Very few female researchers do participate in the design, data collection, analysis, and writing of research reports in Somalia. Most of those who participate in research conduct the data collection and do not get an opportunity for data analysis and contributing to the report writing. Somali Public Agenda felt the gender imbalance in the research field in Somalia and discussed how the organization can contribute to filling the gap.   Read more

Protecting stability and inclusivity in Somalia’s indirect election process

/0 Comments/in , /by

Protecting progress that has already been made in Somalia’s post-conflict transition should be the main priority of the upcoming electoral process. Significantly, Somalis have already achieved agreement on the main aspects of the process through intensive dialogue, which represents a major hurdle that has been negotiated. As well as this, the elections can also help to further expand participation and representation in Somalia’s political structures, which would be another step forward—albeit small—in Somalia’s post-conflict trajectory.

These successes are not yet guaranteed. The process comes at the tail-end of a period of heightened political tensions in Somalia, between the FGS and some federal member states, notably Jubaland and Puntland, as well as between the FGS and opposition politicians. The agreement struck in September is fragile, and, in the absence of trust, the contentious issues outlined above may derail the process. There is a high chance that the elections become protracted and contested, increasing the likelihood that the result is disputed.

These are worst-case scenarios and are avoidable if the spirit of consensus reached in September amongst the Somali political leadership can be revitalized and deepened. Constant political dialogue between Somali leaders from different sides of the spectrum on the issues outlined here is essential to build trust, relationships and channels of communication that can be the basis for a credible process, and mediation of political differences. This might take place in the form of a monthly meeting of political leaders whilst the election campaign is underway, as well as regular meetings or conference calls between technical advisors from the different groups.

Read the full governance brief here

In la ilaaliyo horumarkii horay loogu sameeyay marxaladda isbeddelka doorashada ee Soomaaliya waa in uu noqdaa mudnaanta koowaad ee hannaanka doorashooyinka soo socda. Muhiimad ahaan, Soomaalidu waxay hore heshiis uga gaareen arrimaha ugu muhiimsan ee geeddi-socodka doorashada iyadoo loo marayo wadahadal. Sidoo kale, doorashadu waxay kaloo gacan ka gaysan kartaa sii ballaarinta ka-qaybgalka iyo metelaadda siyaasadeed ee Soomaaliya, taasoo noqon doonta tallaabo kale oo horey loo qaado – in kasta oo ay yar tahay.

Guulahaan weli lama damaanad qaadin. Hannaanka doorashada ayaa kusoo aadaya dabayaaqada xilli ay ka jiraan Soomaaliya xiisado siyaasadeed oo xoogeystay ee u dhexeeya dowladda federaalka iyo qaar ka mid ah dowladaha xubnaha ka ah dowladda federaalka, gaar ahaan Jubaland iyo Puntland, iyo sidoo kale khilaaf u dhexeeya dowladda federaalka iyo siyaasiyiinta mucaaradka. Heshiiskii la gaaray bishii Sebteember waa mid nugul, maadaama aanu kalsooni badan heysanin, arrimaha lagu muransan yahay ee kor ku xusan ayaana carqaladeyn kara hannaanka doorashada. Waxaa jirta ifafaalo ah in doorashooyinka ay noqdaan kuwo daba dheeraada, taasoo kordhinaysa suuragalnimada in natiijada doorashadu noqoto mid lagu murmo.

Kuwani waa xaaladaha ugu xun ee dhici kara waana kuwo laga fogaan karo haddii dareenka adag ee heshiiskii la gaarey bishii Sebteambar ee u dhexeeyey hoggaamiyaasha siyaasadda ee Soomaaliya dib loosoo nooleyn karo lanasii ballaarin karo. Wadahadal siyaasadeed oo joogta ah oo u dhexeeya madaxda Soomaalida ee ka kala socda dhinacyada kala duwan ee arrimaha halkan lagu xusey ayaa lagama maarmaan u ah dhismaha kalsooni, xiriiro iyo wadiiqooyin isgaarsiineed oo gundhig u noqon kara hannaan lagu kalsoonaan karo, iyo dhexdhexaadinta khilaafaadka iyo kala duwanaanshaha siyaasadeed. Tani waxa ay u dhici kartaa qaab kulan bille ah oo u dhexeeya hoggaamiyaasha siyaasadda inta ololaha doorashada uu socdo, iyo sidoo kale shirar caadiga ah ee u dhexeeya lataliyeyaasha farsamada ee siyaasiyiinta kala duwan.

Soo rogo warbixinta oo dhameystiran

In Partnership with the Rift Valley Institute’s Somali Dialogue Platform

FORUM: Kaalinta Dhalinyarada ee Doorashooyinka Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya: Fursadaha iyo Caqabadaha

/0 Comments/in , /by

On Thursday, 12th November 2020, Somali Public Agenda and Youth Peer Education Network (Y-Peer) in Somalia have co-organized a forum that took place at Afrik Hotel in Mogadishu under the theme “The role of the Somali youth in the upcoming Somalia parliamentary and presidential elections: opportunities and challenges”.

59 young participants, from both genders, representing different institutions and organizations in Mogadishu have attended the forum, such as university students, civil servants, NGOs, and aspirants for parliamentary seats in the upcoming elections among others.

Also, present at the forum were three panelists namely Sagal Bihi (MP), Muno Axlaa, a candidate for a parliamentary seat in the upcoming elections, and Ahmed Hadi, political activist and head of Public Relations at Somali International University, who were invited to make remarks on the subject and answer questions of the participants.

The panelists emphasized thorny issues that hamstring Somali youth participate in the political process such as discriminatory fees from candidates to the parliamentary seats, infested parochial political cultures, and foreign money funded to competing politicians.

Participants were offered an opportunity to make their comments and ask questions to the panelists.

Watch the full forum video here.

Somali Public Agenda

Mahad Opening Remarks on Somalia Elections Event by Chatham House

/0 Comments/in , /by

Somali Public Agenda

Qualitative Research Training for Female Researchers

/0 Comments/in /by

The Center for Learning and Development is a training and capacity development facility run by  Somali Public Agenda (SPA). It aims to connect the civil servants, policymakers and non-profit sector workers with communities and provide administrations with the technical skills necessary to formulate and implement solutions for public service challenges. Moreover, the center offers training to Somali professionals and university graduates who have the desire and passion to join the public sector as well as professionals engaged in the civil service and non-profit sectors.

ABOUT THE COURSE

In this course, you will be introduced to the basic ideas behind the qualitative research in social science. You will learn about data collection, description, analysis and interpretation in qualitative research. Qualitative research often involves an iterative process. We will focus on the ingredients required for this process: research design, data collection and analysis.

You won’t learn how to use qualitative methods by just listening to lectures, so we put  emphasis on collecting data through observation and interviews and analyzing and interpreting the collected data in other assignments. Read more

What Lessons can be Learned from Somalia’s 2016 Indirect Elections?

/0 Comments/in , /by

Somalia is heading into another indirect election in 2020-21. It is a familiar process and one that was undertaken almost four years ago. Many lessons can be learned from the 2016 indirect electoral implementation process. In 2016, candidates for the House of the People of Somali Federal Parliament covered some important logistics, travel and accommodation costs for the electoral delegates (which in part is believed to have helped them get elected); there was no scheduled time for meetings between candidates and the voting delegates; and the date and time for voting of each seat of the House of the People was unilaterally decided by the state election implementation teams. In 2016, the proportion of women in parliament was increased from 14% to 24%, which was a significant increase. This was one of the positives of the 2016 indirect elections and similar efforts could be made this time around to raise this to the 30% female quota target. This brief analyses the implementation process of the 2016 indirect elections and concludes with policy considerations. These include: prohibiting  candidates to handpick electoral delegates; providing the necessary logistical and accommodation support to the delegates on time; arranging a formal campaign  schedule for voters and candidates; publishing the election schedule for each seat of the House of the People in advance; allowing the media and election observers to be present during the voting, and monitoring and reporting irregularities and fraudulent practices throughout the election process.

Download the full brief here

Soomaaliya waxa ay galeysaa doorasho dadban mar labaad sanadka 2020-21. Waa hannaan la yaqaanno oo la qabtay ku dhowaad afar sano kahor. Casharro badan ayaa laga baran karaa geeddi-socodkii hirgelinta doorashooyinkii dadbanaa ee 2016. Sanadkii 2016, qaar kamid ah musharraxiinta Golaha Shacabka ee Baarlamaanka Federaalka Soomaaliya ayaa bixiyey kharashaadka saadka sida safarka iyo hoyga loogu talagalay ergooyinka doorashada (taasoo qeyb ahaan la rumeysan yahay inay ka caawisay doorashadooda); ma jirin wakhti loo qorsheeyey kulamada musharraxiinta iyo ergooyinka; taariikhda iyo wakhtiga loo codeynayo kursi kasta oo kamid ah Golaha Shacabka waxaa go’aamiyay hal dhinac oo ah kooxaha fulinaya doorashooyinka. Sanadkii 2016, qoondada haweenka ee baarlamaanka ayaa oo markii hore ahaa 14% ayaa laga dhigay 24%, taasoo ahayd koror aad u weyn. Tani waxa ay ahayd mid kamid ah waxyaabihii wanaagsanaa ee kasoo baxay doorashadii dadbanayd ee 2016; dadaallada noocan oo kale ah ayaa sidoo kale la samayn karaa markan si sare loogu qaado saamiga lana gaarsiiyo hiigsiga qoondada haweenka ee ah 30%. Faalladan kooban waxaa uu falanqeynayaa hannaankii hirgelinta doorashooyinkii dadbanaa ee 2016, waxaana uu soo jeedinayaa talooyin tixgelin mudan oo ay kamid yihiin: ka mamnuucidda musharixiinta in ay gacan ku yeeshaan xulista ergooyinka doorashada; in wakhtigeeda lagu bixiyo saadka loo baahan yahay iyo hoyga ergada; diyaarinta jadwalka ololaha rasmiga ah ee cod-bixiyeyaasha iyo musharraxiinta; daabacaadda jadwalka doorashada ee kursi kasta xilli hore; u oggolaanshaha warbaahinta iyo kormeerayaasha doorashada in ay goobjoog ka ahaadaan xilliga cod-bixinta, iyo la socoshada iyo soo gudbinta khaladaadka inta lagu guda jiro hannaanka doorashada.

Soo rogo warbixinta oo dhameystiran