Somaliland

A former British Protectorate, Somaliland joined the Union of Somalia in 1960. In 1991, following years of external and civil conflict, Somalia’s central military regime collapsed.

Shortly after, the people of the Northern regions voted to regain their sovereignty and the Republic of Somaliland was declared Independent of the Union of Somalia.? However, the Republic remains isolated and unrecognised internationally with profound implications for the country’s trade and aid agreements and its long term economic development.

Traditionally a patriarchal society, women’s low, inferior status, has – until recently – been accepted and sanctioned by religion and social custom. However, following Somaliland’s traumatic inter-clan civil war between 1994-6, the country’s urban women have experienced significant changes. The high turnout of women voters in the 2000 elections is testimony to women’s growing awareness of – and desire to exercise – their civil and political rights.

But despite such positive moves forward, the majority of the country’s rural women face a very different reality.?? Men remain the key decision-makers in practically all areas of family, community and national affairs. Issues of marriage, divorce, inheritance, relationships within and beyond communities, political participation, education, literacy? - all are decided without addressing women’s specific needs and concerns. Social, civic and political exclusion combines with poverty and illiteracy to stifle women’s voices and deprive them of a full and active place in society.

In addition, Harmful Traditional Practices such as Female Genital Mutilation and early and forced marriage continue to further burden Somaliland’s women. It is estimated that 100% of the country’s women have undergone FGM in its severest, most traumatic form – Infibulation. In this form of FGM, all external genitalia are cut off and the vagina is sewn up almost entirely.? A small hole is left for the passing of urine and menstrual blood. The attendant health risks and complications of Infibulation are multiple and severe. Many girls and young women die each year as a result of shock and haemorrhage. Of those who survive, they face a lifetime of chronic health problems and lasting damage to their physical, emotional, mental and psycho-sexual health and well being.

Egypt