Media Groups in Somalia condemn the Ministry of Women over conference exclusion of Somali Women Journalist Association
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) and other media organizations including the Somali Women Journalist Association (SWJ), Somali Media Association (SOMA) and Somalia Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) jointly condemn the decision of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development of the Federal Government of Somalia which excluded and totally rejected for Somali Female Journalist group for participating Women’s Convention in Mogadishu from 4th to 6th March 2019.
The Ministry of Women denied the right for female journalist members to take part in the women conference and instead invited several non-journalist males to represent on behalf of female journalists.
“There was no an official invitation from Ministry of Women of Federal Government of Somalia to Somali Women Journalist Association, and we were greatly surprised and shocked when we saw male journalists taking part in the Somali women’s conference and claiming they represent us” Farhiya Mohamed Kheyre a Chairlady of Somali Women Journalist Association said.
“The Somali Journalists can’t accept and will not accept that the role and involvement of the women journalists to be denied especially in the women’s issues, so we strongly condemn the act of Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development and we call on to stop marginalizing Female Journalist Groups” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu Secretary of National Union of Somali Journalists said.
“Female Journalists in Somalia work in difficult situations and they deserve their role on the community to be supported but not be discouraged” Hassan Ali Geesey Chairman of Somalia Independent Media Houses Association (SIMHA) said
Mohamed Abdiwahab Secretary General of Somali Media Association (SOMA) a media association comprising of more than 40 media houses in Somalia said
“The Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development stands for protection and safeguard of girls’ rights but it seems now it is the opposite; therefore, we call on Somali government leaders and Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to intervene the case to make sure an equal opportunity”
