Gedo & M/Juba Workshop on Strengthening Role of Women in Peace Building

  On 26-28/01/2008, workshop on women strengthening in peace building & conflict resolution was held by CRD researchers team in Bardere, which is about 450 Km from Mogadishu, it is an agricultural and cattle raising district of Gedo Region, with population of different clans. River Juba crosses at the central portion of the city. Its situational security is normal, although sometimes clan conflict sadism occurs in accordance of Gedo region conflicts.

Participants were 50 members of women organizations mainly from NGOs, women structured groups, who came from different districts of these two regions, as Bardere, Luq, B/Hawo, Doolo,Garbaharey, C/Waq of gedo Region and Jilib, Bua'aale, Saakow & Salagle of M/Juba. The workshop was very interesting as participants showed in their spirit through quoting that it is more beneficiary to fit their capacity building needs and demanded to give them other chances. The workshop persuaded not only participants, but also responsibilities of both the region and the venue district it self.

The workshop was commenced in briefing its objectives by Mariam Mohamed Abdi, one of CRD team, which was based strengthening and improving women's role in peace building through capacity building, and to encourage them to participate the on going peace activities and reconciliations in their districts and regions, as well to convince them to have linkages and to collaborate in comprise of decision making participation. Also it was explained that, such programs of capacitating and strengthening women in peace building was the outcome of dialogue for peace phase I, while this program is dialogue for peace phase II and started from June 2006. Such kind of workshops were held earlier in other regions of South & Central Somalia and became more successful in engaging women in peace building and obviously, it could be testifies in these regions the role women played in participating peace activity missions in their settlements. Also Farah Abdi Hassan, Head of CRD Satellite Office in the regions of Gedo, Lower and Midle Jubas, widely explained CRD/Interpeace PAR methodology, as well the role that the Centre for Research & Dialoug played at the south central regions in the context of peace building & reconciliations.

The workshop was started by the Vice Chairman of the District, Sir Mohamed Sheik Hassan (Keyd). Keyd first thanked To CRD who brought this opportunity of the workshop. He pointed out that it was the first time they happen to met two neighboring regions gathered in one place, and added nothing could be compatible such opportunity for the social peace building benefits and with happiness said, “It would be nice for us to follow river Juba's water to Bu'aale, M/Juba Region and go forward to the fishery city Kismayo”, which he meant, it should be delightfully, to have such opportunity again in Bu'aale and Kismayo gathering the three regions. Sir Hassan Keyd with spirit to show women's role in peace engagement started to sing a song concerning women's role in peace building encouragements (Waa Haweenka Soomaaliyeed hadaladoodiiye hurdayow ka toos waa heshiis haatan dabadeede), which caused all the people in the venue to sing with national spirit, meaning “It is Somali Women's words, the one who is sleeping, please wake up, after now, is the time for reconciliation”.

The workshop lasted in creation of an integrated working committee of 9 members of the two regions for the acceptance and choices of the participants, after they have understood well the meaning and the objectives of the workshop concept. The committee was based on districts, one from each. They also developed shareable activities, as peace building, conflict resolution, war prevention, social awareness, as well of code of conduct in ruling their collaborative premises. Participants really showed their eagerness of the subject and decided to collect monthly contributions to start their collaborative linkages in peace building activities as earlier as they could, and they elected a chairman and vice chairman of the committee and the workshop was concluded by the CRD Regional Officer Farah Abdi Hassan in a hopeful and wining atmosphere.