Somalia today joined the world in marking the first International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict, with a plea to the public to speak out against the crime in the country.

HINNA, a local non-governmental organization with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), organized an event to raise awareness on the subject and which had the presence of government officials, representatives from civil society organizations, women’s groups, elders and Islamic scholars and victims of sexual assault and violence.

Participants engaged in vibrant and engaging discussions on sexual violence in conflict, with a particular focus on Somalia. They also welcomed the event as a means of drawing public attention to the issue and expressed hopes that it would strengthen existing anti-sexual violence legislation.

Speaking after the event, Asha Osman Ugas, the Deputy Chairperson of HINNA, condemned sexual violence in conflict. “We need to speak out against sexual violence. We need to tell the public that sexual violence has no place in Islam. Religious leaders, tell the public that the Holy Koran and Islam forbid sexual violence. We have to tell the people that,” Ugas observed.

Adar Ali Mohamed, the Director of Public Relations and Information in the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, said the government was making concerted efforts to tackle the vice, by first coming up with tougher laws. “The Ministry of Women and Human Rights has drafted a bill. The bill has passed through cabinet and is now before Parliament. This will help in the elimination of sexual violence in Somalia once it becomes law,” she added.

Sexual violence is rampant in Somalia which is slowly emerging from decades of civil war. Camps hosting internally displaced persons have been particularly affected. Last year, the country reported that 94% of survivors of sexual violence cases were females and 74% of them had come from IDP communities.

Last year, the United Nations General Assembly designated June 19 as the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict.

The need to end sexual violence is greater than ever and more and efforts are in place  through a combination of actions undertaken by the Federal Government of Somalia, the United Nations, international and local non-governmental organizations and the donor community. These joint efforts have resulted in tangible results being achieved through the implementation of the National Action Plan on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict in Somalia.