FESOJ holds Move 4 Women Marching Event in Mogadishu
The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized the second annual Move 4 Women Marching event in the Somali capital Mogadishu to support and encourage Somali women in the media
More than one hundred journalists, media workers and journalism students marched in Mogadishu on Saturday as part of the Move 4 Women movement to show solidarity with their female colleagues in the media.
The marching journalists were carrying placards and pamphlets with slogans encouraging women to stand up tall with help and support from society.
Move 4 Women is an international movement of media organizations that highlights the importance of gender equality in and throughout the media and it is supported by Free Press Unlimited one of the leading press freedom organizations based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands
We have to stand for the Somali female journalists in the media, like their male colleagues, many female journalists in Somalia endure intimidation, harassment, physical violence, detention and forced limitations on their movement. Furthermore, women journalists often face social restrictions, and gender-related threats to their safety. They also continue to face discrimination when choosing to pursue a career in the media sector, only a few of them are having senior media management positions, therefore it is so important to demonstrate a realistic approach to raise awareness that women should have equal rights and opportunities , that is why the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) organized the Move 4 Women event with the support of Free press Unlimited” Mohamed Ibrahim Moalimuu NUSOJ Secretary General told participants of the event”
Saida Mohamed Hashi a lawyer and human rights activist who addressed to the
Participants of the event said “First of all, I call upon Somali women in the media to be courageous and able to present their God given talents like other female journalists in the world, second I want you to give an opportunity to other active women in our communities in order their voices to be heard to take active part in the development of the country and its leadership”
“The role of woman journalists in strengthening the democratic processes cannot be underestimated. The power of the press is noted to be more penetrating than the sword” Saida Hashi added.
“On the behalf of the female journalists in Somalia, I thank and welcome a lot for the great support and solidarity you showed us today, and this encourages us to double our efforts. There is no doubt that there are major challenges that we will not be able to achieve in our career of the media but we ask you to help us to collaborate for the development of our communities in general but particularly the negative behavior of the women’s role” Sucaada Abdiaziz a female broadcast journalist said
Mr Mohamed Aded Ali the Secretary General of Somalia Non-State Actors (SONSA) praised the role of women journalists in the society “I urge the female journalists in Somalia to launch a campaign for creating awareness among women about the importance of their vote and increasing their participation in the decision-making process. It is impossible to accomplish development goals if women are denied meaningful political participation,” Mr Ali said. “No country can reach its optimal potential if its female citizens are denied full equality.
Finally, the women’s journalists who participated in the event of Move for Women called on the Federal Government of Somalia and other international organizations that Somali Women Journalist Association should not be excluded from national conferences as happened during three-day Somali Women’s Convention, which took place in Mogadishu in the first week of March ,2019 which was organized by Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development .
End
