Mogadishu - Women in Mogadishu have today raised their voices, calling for peace.

This was during a dialogue hosted by the Banadir Regional Women’s Authority - which is charged with advocating for the safety and rights of women in the Banadir Region - on the issues affecting women and how they can advance the cause of peace.

Women drawn from all the districts of the Banadir region convened in Mogadishu with the day’s discussion centered on the theme “No peace means no life”.

The discussion touched on a range of issues, including the security status in Mogadishu, the lack of respect for and isolation of women in the country’s leadership and how women can serve as agents of peace through awareness creation, among others.

Speaking during the dialogue, Jawahir Mohamoud Jamaa, the Chairperson Banadir Regional Women’s Authority observed that the women are always the first victims in all situations of conflict.

“Those who are missing peace are the women, Somali women need peace, we are the ones looking for it. We are the ones faced with problems, we give birth to the fighting youth and in another way they are our fathers and brothers. So we are very sorry and we would like to call on those who are killing and creating problems like terrorists and Al-Shabaab; we ask them to leave us. We want peace, we want development and we want to catch up with women in the international community,” she appealed.

The event also attracted female entertainers who led in song and dance, during the interludes. Muslimo Qaasim Hillowle, a comedian and singer says the country’s arts have also suffered as result of conflict.

“Without peace, there is no life. If there is no peace nothing else has meaning. If you have a lot of money and you don’t have peace, you cannot utilize it. We are the comedians but can only work in a peaceful environment. If you don’t have peace, you cannot entertain people. Thanks to God that we now have peace, there is little work left to be done and we ask God to complete this little for us,” she said.

Some of the women who have suffered personal losses as a result of war shared the experiences during the dialogue, calling for a change of behavior to avoid further victimization.

“Actually those who need peace always are the women. Today, one of our sisters mentioned that her brothers and her son died in the war and still, she is standing to look for peace. This reflects that women mostly need peace. Peace means development, is a key to future development and it is very important. Somali women have faced many challenges in the country and after this time of conflict, they will devise all means to ensure that peace is realized in the country,” said Marian Ahmed Hillowle.

The women rallied each other to be agents of peace and also urged the government to recognize the role that women can play in society.
“Somali women here always stood by peace, peace, peace. In the Somali culture, women are the fabric of the society, they have always fought for peace, they stood for peace, are number one for peace and I urge the international community and the Somali government to help these women, support these women to get peace in Somalia and the larger world peace,” said Hinda Ali a Somali diaspora from the USA.

The event by the Banadir Regional Women’s Authority is one of several others that are ongoing in different parts of Somalia, ahead of the International Day of Peace, marked every year on 21st September. Supported by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, these community-led events facilitate dialogue and are aimed at recognizing the role of every individual Somali in the pursuit of peace in the country.