Somali women officers find ways to enhance their role in justice and security

Dec 09, 2015 The United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) recently held a two-day workshop for female officers from the Somali Custodial Corps.

The workshop was aimed at addressing the lack of representation and participation of women in the justice and security sectors.

Participants at the workshop agreed to create a national network for female officers to help address the challenges.

Also the resolutions from the workshop will be incorporated in a strategic document known as the “Onkod Plan” which is meant to help in the restructuring of the judicial system.

Corporal Rukia Yussuf Abdi, one of the attending custodial officers, said:

“We came here to take part in the training with officers from Gaalkacyo, Baidoa, Galmudug, Kismaayo, Jowhar in order to help and support our motherland. I will share with my colleagues what I have learnt in the hope that they too will benefit,”

According to the UN, women in Somalia are greatly underrepresented in government institutions. This has led to targeted recruitment and training of female officers.

Somalia’s Prisons Service currently has the highest number of female personnel, compared to other security agencies in the country.