Mogadishu – On the occasion of International Women’s Day, the United Nations in Somalia congratulates Somali women for their continued efforts and achievements in advancing women’s political participation in peace processes, political stability, and the country’s development.
“Somali women continue to contribute significantly to the peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts in the country – I congratulate them on their achievements in advancing gender equality and the full participation of women in all spheres of life,” said the UN Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, James Swan.
“However,” he added, “Somali women continue to face systemic barriers and biases that make it difficult for gender equality to be achieved, and I urge Somali authorities to take swift and decisive steps to achieve gender equality.”
This theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is ‘Accelerate Action.’ It emphasizes that, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 – roughly five generations from now – to reach full global gender parity. Hence, there is an urgent need to address systemic barriers and biases that women face.
International Women’s Day has been observed around the world since 1975 when the United Nations started marking the occasion to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.