S/PV.8867 Security Council

In accordance with rule 39 of the Council’s provisional rules of procedure, I invite Ms. Shukria Dini, co-Founder and Executive Director of the Somali Women’s Studies Centre, to participate in this meeting. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of the item on its agenda. I wish to warmly welcome the Deputy Secretary- General, Her Excellency Ms. Amina Mohammed, to whom I now give the floor.

Let me begin by congratulating you, Mr. President, on Ireland’s presidency this month and to thank you for the invitation to brief the Security Council today. I would also like to extend my greetings to Ms. Shukria Dini, whom I had the pleasure of meeting during my visit. I commend the Council for its leadership on women and peace and security, and in particular the commitment of Ireland, Kenya and Mexico to prioritize this issue during their successive presidencies. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to travel to Somalia. That was the seventh mission I have undertaken in recent years on women and peace and security, and the first mission in person since the start of the pandemic. It is also my second visit to Somalia on this issue. The trip was undertaken in solidarity with Somali women’s calls for full and equal participation in political life, including through the implementation of a 30 per cent quota, and to express the support of the international community for timely, inclusive, peaceful and credible elections. Somalia reached a milestone in its 2016 elections, with 24 per cent of parliamentary seats taken up by women. Those figures demonstrate that progress is possible, even in the most difficult circumstances. But even so, they fall short of the commitment that Somalia’s political leaders made to achieve 30 per cent women’s representation in Parliament. Every woman matters. There is real concern that in the current elections to the House of the People, the levels of representation will decrease, despite promises and stipulations in electoral agreements. While in Mogadishu, I met with President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble, members of the National Consultative Council, comprised of the Prime Minister and the federal member state leaders, members of the Federal Elections Implementation Team, state-level election implementation teams and the Electoral Disputes Resolution Committee, in addition to women’s groups, civil society and traditional elders, as well as representatives of the international community. Consistently and across the board, I heard a strong commitment to the principle of women’s equal participation and the 30 per cent quota. It was encouraging to hear from the National Consultative Council that it has agreed on measures to ensure the integrity, transparency and credibility of the elections, as well as the gender quota. I also appreciated the Prime Minister’s leadership and the concrete actions he has taken to build women’s representation. Those include reducing candidate fees for women and appointing goodwill ambassadors to support and advocate for the 30 per cent quota with federal member state leaders. It was also encouraging to hear traditional elders acknowledge the central role of women in advancing peace and security in Somalia. All were committed to the issue of women’s inclusion, yet real challenges remain. Women themselves spoke of ongoing obstacles they struggle to face access to financial support to hold campaigns. They also lack the political networks and connections of their male peers. The political environment in general is not conducive to women representatives, and many male leaders continue to promote male candidates. Those challenges are compounded by violence and discrimination. Women reported that, in some states, female candidates are unable to rent campaign offices — a simple and effective way to prevent them from being elected. Across the board, women spoke of the need for greater protection from intimidation, harassment and violence. Just three days ago, sadly, Ms. Hibaq Abukar, an adviser on women’s affairs and human rights in the Prime Minister’s office, was killed in a bomb attack in Mogadishu. I pay tribute to Ms. Abukar and all Somali women, who run the risk every day to fight for their rights. Women in areas controlled by Al-Shabaab face added security challenges that undermine their efforts to campaign openly. The women I met called for a concrete mechanism to ensure the implementation of the 30 per cent quota and for a move towards direct elections in the form of one person, one vote. The current format of indirect selection leaves political decision-making in the hands of clan elders, all of whom are men. Women called on their leaders to implement in full all political agreements related to the elections. That includes the political agreements of 17 September and 27 May, as well as the 22 August communiqué, in which leaders of the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states made a commitment to the 30 per cent quota for women. Women also called for constitutional reforms that would create a permanent solution by reserving a proportion of the parliamentary seats for women, and for women to be included in electoral committees as delegates and candidates. At the State level, the Federal Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, with whom I spoke, encouraged the United Nations to continue to support both the constitutional review process and a multiparty electoral system. She emphasized that this is the key to increasing women’s participation in future elections and political processes. There was also recognition that women’s economic empowerment is inextricably linked with political participation and directly impacts women’s ability to engage in public life. She then called on the United Nations to redouble our efforts to support women’s opportunities, independence and participation in economic activities. My visit to Somalia took place at a time of heightened tensions among political leaders. In my talks with the President and the Prime Minister, I reinforced the message of the international community that Somalia must not return to the divisions and conflicts of the past. Both leaders committed to doing everything possible to avert a crisis by continuing dialogue, resolving issues peacefully and maintaining the momentum for the elections. Since then, the situation has evolved, and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General has briefed Council members on this. Despite sustained negotiations, there has been no breakthrough yet, and I continue to encourage Somali leaders to de-escalate tensions, find a compromise solution and continue the progress on elections that will strengthen stability across the region. The need for regional stability was also highlighted in meetings that I had with Presidents Kenyatta and Hassan, of Kenya and Tanzania, on my way to Somalia. Both Heads of State emphasized the need for increased and sustained attention by the international community to issues the stability in the Horn. It is clear that Somalia is a neighbourhood concern. Both the country and the region need a secure transition, so that they can focus on consolidating the dividends of peace and investing in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals. Somalia has achieved considerable momentum with its electoral process. It is critical that this continues through the finalization of the Upper House elections and the start of the Lower House process. In this regard, I welcome the announcement of the electoral schedule for the Somaliland seats. Going forward, I urge leaders to prioritize the full implementation of the electoral agreement, establish concrete mechanisms to implement the 30 per cent quota and strengthen efforts aimed at protecting women from violence, including equal access to justice for all women. Somalis cannot move their country forward and build trust in institutions and elections without women’s equal participation. Inclusive elections will lay the foundations for a resilient, sustainable and inclusive country. I made this second visit to Somalia because women’s political participation is a game changer in our efforts to achieve sustainable peace development and a more resilient and inclusive society. Women’s participation and representation in political life is a precondition for lasting peace in Somalia. The 30 per cent quota is a crucial first step towards the equal representation of women in all sectors of life, from business to public service, elections to appointments. As one federal state woman minister noted, women in Somalia account for over 50 per cent of the population, so the 30 per cent quota can only be the beginning. This point was echoed by a member of the state electoral implementation team, who observed that the Parliament is called the People’s House, so it should reflect that half of those people are women. I would like to share with the Security Council the appeal I heard from many Somali leaders for the international community to keep up our sustained focus, support and partnership. The United Nations mission and country team are committed to ensuring this with the Council’s support, and with these efforts, I am confident that Somalia will continue to move forward. I hope to return to see the progress and meet the new Parliament with a minimum of 30 per cent women representatives in the near future.

I thank the Deputy Secretary- General for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Shukria Dini. Ms. Dini: Madam President, I thank you for the invitation to address the Security Council. My name is Shukria Dini. I am a gender and peace activist and currently a member of the goodwill ambassadors charged with advocating the achievement of the 30 per cent quota for women in the Somali national election 2021-2022. Allow me to convey to the Security Council the warmest greetings from the entire team of the goodwill ambassadors and Somali women across the country. I am honoured and privileged to be speaking on behalf of Somali women. In this briefing, I consider myself a transmitter of the views and concerns that Somali women wish to share with the members of the Security Council. The recent visit by the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina J. Mohammed, in early September, and the visit by Ireland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs in July have given us a much-needed boost. Their visits have placed much-needed focus on the issue and put pressure on critical actors in Somalia to support women’s representation and participation in the ongoing electoral processes. Both visits were appreciated by Somali women and reassured us that we are not alone in our struggle for political participation, empowerment and equality. In my briefing, I will shed light on the importance of women’s participation and representation in political processes, particularly in the ongoing elections, the concerns of Somali women and the importance and urgency of achieving women’s 30 per cent quota. As a result of the protracted conflict, the roles of women in Somalia have been changing. Women have become the primary breadwinners for their extended families. In fact, it is estimated that over 60 per cent of households in Somalia heavily rely on women’s meagre income. Women have also become the protectors of their families. In fulfilling these new roles and responsibilities, Somali women have learned to exercise their agency and have become true leaders in their own particular ways. They have proven how resourceful they can be and how important they are to the survival of their families and communities. They have been able to build local strategies and social solutions and are transforming their country. While women have been at the forefront in building peace and preventing conflicts in Somalia, they are not sufficiently represented in formal peace and political processes and lack opportunities that can improve their representation in formal decision-making. The Deputy Secretary-General’s visit, which was a high-level mission from United Nations Headquarters, was a historic and much-needed one. Seeing a woman leader expressing solidarity with Somali women and engaging national and federal member states’ leaders, clan elders and electoral teams to ensure the delivery of the 30 per cent quota was indeed a very rare but very effective opportunity for Somali women. It left them more encouraged and more energized to continue their struggle to realize a minimum 30 per cent quota in the upcoming election. Somali women are very appreciative for Ms. Mohammed’s visit. I would like to point out that the representation of women in political processes is a human rights issue, a justice issue, a security issue, a peace issue and a democratic issue. The challenges that women face in our society need more women’s voices and leadership to address them. We need more women leaders who are going to address the barriers facing women. Women’s participation in political and electoral processes is critical to rebuilding a transformative, peaceful and inclusive Somalia. The ongoing electoral process provides an opportunity for improving women’s roles, representation and participation in politics, and it is critical that we deliver an inclusive election. Women’s representation and participation in elections and political processes are critical to realizing an inclusive society and increasing women’s influence in decision-making, agenda setting and resource allocation. Political accountability and gender-inclusive governance can be achieved only when women are included in formal decision-making forums. Exclusionary political processes threaten lasting peace, stability, gender equality and recovery in Somalia. Somali women bring different experiences, skills and perspectives to the table, and that can enrich the peace and political processes, not to mention the whole process of democratization. Women have used their marginalization within the clan system to earn the trust of all clans, thus giving them the ability to mobilize community actors to unite, come to the aid of the most vulnerable groups, stretch their limited, hard- earned incomes, and feed their extended families and non-family members. Our national election needs to be seen as an appeal to promote peace, security and unity in Somalia. Somali women have been calling for peaceful elections and believe that their presence in electoral processes will reduce tension among competing actors. Women have been calling for all parties and stakeholders to set aside their political rivalries and support peaceful elections for the sake of the country. Safeguarding the 30 per cent women’s quota must be a top priority in the ongoing national election. Despite promises of political leaders to safeguard the women’s quota, Somali women remain extremely concerned about the outcomes of the election, particularly given the results so far in the already-concluded Senate election. This is where the work of the goodwill ambassadors becomes extremely critical, particularly in carrying out high-powered, sustained advocacy and putting pressure on critical actors. Since their appointment, the goodwill ambassadors have been actively engaging in advocacy and lobbying with such critical actors as national and regional leaders and other crucial actors to secure the women’s quota. We have been visiting federal member states and engaging directly with various stakeholders, urging them to safeguard the women’s quota. The goodwill ambassadors have offered ideas and recommendations for such a mechanism for all stakeholders. Somali women and goodwill ambassadors urged the international community, particularly the Security Council, to support Somalia to continue their pressure on members of the National Consultative Council in Somalia. I also urge the Security Council to convince our leaders that they cannot and must not drive our country into chaos and unrest. That political solution is the only path; the elections must happen without further delay, and the 30 per cent quota must be delivered. For the 30 per cent quota to be realized, our demands are very straightforward and include, first: identify and reserve 83 seats for women in the House of the People election; set aside and reserve 10 seats for the remaining 25 Senate seats for women; and hold elections in women’s seats before the elections in general seats. Secondly, our demands include also: take appropriate measures to ensure the protection of women during the electoral processes. And, thirdly, the federal member state leaders who are members of the National Consultative Council must ensure that the federal electoral implementation team and state-level electoral implementation teams reject any nominations of male candidates in the seats reserved for women. We have a message for the international community as well. We ask it not to support the elections if the 30 per cent women’s quota is not protected. Do not commend actions and decisions by national stakeholders if women’s reserved seats are not protected. The space of civil society remains critical to supporting women’s leadership and offers an entry point for women to enter politics. It is in that space that Somali women have been delivering much-needed services to vulnerable populations and building women’s leadership. It is critical to empower women operating in this space for leadership positions so that they can impact the lives of many women across Somalia. To conclude, Somalia is in a better place than it was 10 years ago, but we are at a crossroads, and any progress that lopsided will leave women out of the corridors of power. Building a new Somalia can be only possible when women and all other marginalized communities are fully included in all peace and political processes. The opportunity of the ongoing election must not be missed. Once again, I wish to extend to you, Madam President, and other members of the Security Council our sincere thanks and appreciation for this opportunity and your unwavering support for Somalia and Somali women.

I thank Ms. Dini for her excellent briefing. I shall now give the floor to those Council members wishing to make statements. Dame Barbara Woodward (United Kingdom): I should like to start by thanking our briefers, the Deputy Secretary-General and Ms. Shukria Dini. I am very struc. I am very grateful to Ireland for having convened this briefing. I think that here in the Security Council we tend to focus on the so-called big picture of political and security crises, including the security situation in Somalia. But today we have a chance to focus on the real-life impacts on the day-to-day lives of Somali women and girls shaped by those so-called big picture factors. We have also heard both from the Deputy Secretary- General and from Shukria Dini that Somali women and girls are not just passively affected by politics and security; they are powerful agents of change too. I would like to make three points in that regard. First, we should be clear that both the coronavirus disease pandemic and Somalia’s persistent political crises have prevented substantial progress on Somalia’s other priorities, including on the women and peace and security agenda. That is the opportunity cost of the current crisis, and this setback exacerbates Somalia’s political problems. Gender inequality and the perpetual cycle of violence against women and girls contributes towards Somalia’s protracted insecurity, instability and Al-Shabaab’s insurgency. In that respect, I want to underline that the United Kingdom is deeply concerned by the continued pervasiveness of sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia. Reports indicate that rates of forced marriage and female genital mutilation have increased during the pandemic. And so we again urge Somalia’s leaders to prioritize the adoption of the 2018 sexual offences bill as soon as possible and to implement its provisions. Secondly, to solve those problems, as we have heard, we need women to have seats at the table when decisions are made. For Somalia’s long-term development to be inclusive and effective, it is vital to take steps to bring about equal participation and representation of women in decision-making and leadership positions. As we heard today from Ms. Shukria Dini, and as we have heard before from Somali civil-society leaders, women have an important, constructive role to play in Somalia’s development, and they deserve a level playing field. So the United Kingdom therefore calls again on Somalia’s leaders to deliver on their commitment to ensure that a minimum of 30 per cent of parliamentary seats go to women in the ongoing elections, in accordance with the 2020 and 2021 electoral agreements. As the Upper House electoral process moves towards its conclusion, it is disappointing to see that Somalia’s leaders have not met that commitment, and so we urge them to take steps to ensure that their commitment is met for the upcoming Lower House elections. Thirdly, we also encourage Somalia to accelerate the finalization, adoption and full implementation of its national action plan on women and peace and security, in close cooperation with civil society. That is a vital component of efforts to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding and socioeconomic progress. The United Kingdom reiterates its commitment to working constructively with Somalia and Somali women to strengthen the role of women in peace and security and advance progress in human rights and democracy to enable long-term stability.

I thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Ms. Dini for their briefings. and I would like to express my condolences in connection with the victims of the two bombings in Somalia on 25 September. Women represent an important force in achieving lasting peace and building an inclusive society. In recent years the Somali Government has made great efforts to protect women’s rights and interests, combat gender-based violence and enhance women’s voices in political, economic and social life. China welcomes the Government’s commitment to guaranteeing women seats in the elections and the concrete measures taken to encourage women’s political participation, including reducing fees for women candidates, appointing goodwill ambassadors and setting up publicity committees. After a long period of war in Somalia, national reconstruction cannot be accomplished overnight. The international community must be patient and encourage, in a step-by-step manner, greater political inclusivity in Somalia. Political stability and national unity in Somalia will help create favourable conditions for women’s equal, full and effective participation in political life. We have noted that differences among Somali leaders remain unresolved and are concerned about the possible impact on the political and security situation on the ground. On 18 September, the Security Council issued a statement to the press (SC/14641) calling on Somali leaders to exercise restraint, put the interests of the country and the people first, overcome their differences through dialogue and consultation, and preserve political security and stability. We believe that Somali leaders will heed the voices and wishes of the people and the international community by strengthening unity. China encourages the African Union, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development and the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia to continue their mediation efforts to bring the political situation in Somalia back on track. The most urgent task for Somalia right now is to hold the elections successfully. All parties have made some progress in implementing the consensus reached on 17 September 2020 and 27 May 2021. At the same time, the Somali elections still face many complex challenges. Some core pending issues may affect their progress. China encourages Somalia to continue to advance the election process in accordance with the time frame agreed upon by all parties and to resolve the outstanding issues through political dialogue. The international community should continue to provide the necessary financial and technical support for the elections, in accordance with the principle of a Somali-led and Somali-owned process. Faced with the multiple challenges, the current situation in Somalia is sensitive and complex. The Security Council should calibrate the periodicity and efforts invested in the deliberations and be seized of the priorities of the situation so that Somalia can focus on advancing important issues concerning its future and destiny.

We welcome Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed’s timely visit to Somalia and the meetings held with the President, the Prime Minister, women civil society members, the electoral management bodies, goodwill ambassadors and the elders, and the importance of that in underscoring the full and meaningful participation and leadership of women in the country. I thank Ms. Mohammed for sharing her analysis of the situation. Her expression of solidarity for securing the 30 per cent quota is both timely and necessary. We also thank Ms. Dini for sharing her expertise and experience as a researcher and civil society leader with us today. Somali women’s participation in politics and in the economy must be guaranteed and supported, and they must be able to do so free from violence and intimidation. We express our condolences to the family of Hibaq Abukar and to the families of all the victims of the attack in Mogadishu last weekend. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines welcomes the commitment demonstrated by the Federal Government of Somalia to achieving the quota. The appointment of the advocacy committee, goodwill ambassadors and champions by Prime Minister Roble and the National Consultative Council (NCC) to advocate for women’s inclusion in the elections is evidence of that commitment. The reduction of the candidates’ registration fee by 50 per cent, as was done in the 2016/2017 election, is yet another significant decision taken by the Federal Government of Somalia and the NCC. However, we acknowledge the concerns expressed by Ms. Batula Axmed Gaballe, Chairperson of both the Somali National Organization of Women and the recently established advocacy committee, as she briefed the Security Council last month (see S/PV.8833). Even as she welcomed the commitment and actions undertaken by the Government to achieve the quota, she reiterated the importance of cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states, the need to engage the federal member state and clan leaders on reserving parliamentary seats for women only and the overall establishment of a concrete mechanism for the implementation of the quota. We reiterate calls for cooperation among members of the Federal Government of Somalia and between the Federal Government and the federal member states not only to ensure the successful completion of the various phases of the election, but also to guarantee that the target regarding the election of women to Parliament is either met or surpassed. With organizations such as the Somali Women’s Studies Centre, represented here by Ms. Dini, working at the intersections of gender and youth to focus on women’s political participation, ending gender-based violence and women’s economic empowerment, Somali women are at the front lines of changing their society. We must also not lose sight of the climate and security risks to which women and girls are made most vulnerable and how transforming such arrangements requires women’s political participation and leadership. The support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) to the country has been significant. We applaud UNSOM’s provision of technical and logistical support, as well as the coordination of international financial commitments for the election in Somalia. Recent visits to federal member states, including the visit to Puntland by the Heads of AMISOM, UNSOM and the European Union and Swedish missions in Somalia, have been critical in underscoring the regional and international commitment to the cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states regarding the election, as well as Somali women’s right to political participation and in broader State-building processes. We also welcome the visit by the delegation of international partners to Baidoa, in South-West State, to reiterate the same. We commend the National Election Security Committee in its efforts to coordinate security for the elections, and we welcome the role of AMISOM, working alongside the federal and state police commissioners, in those efforts. The commitment of the African Union to the budgetary request made by the Federal Government of Somalia to supply equipment for the elections and its efforts, alongside the Somali security forces, to thwart Al-Shabaab’s attempts to disrupt the elections must also be commended. In conclusion, let us not lose sight of the purpose for which the elections are being held and why it is imperative that they be inclusive. As signalled in both the 17 September 2020 and the 27 May 2021 agreements, the election is critical to normalizing the security situation, addressing the urgent humanitarian needs and accelerating socioeconomic development. In short, the election is key to advancing the State-building process. Unless women are sitting at the decision-making table at all levels and unless women are crafters of policies and architects of actions, the possibility of equitable and just development will remain elusive. That is true of every society. In 2016/2017, Somalia achieved what a majority of countries in our United Nations, including developed countries, have failed to do: 24 per cent of parliamentary seats were secured by women, as we heard. The current election should set another milestone, thus achieving the aspirations that Somali women have set for themselves.

I thank Deputy Secretary- General Mohammed for coming to brief us today and for undertaking the trip to Somalia. There is nothing like being there and being on the ground to speak with the people and get their perspectives. We were glad to receive her in Kenya in mid-September, and we would again underline the commitments that our President made to her and his focus on regional peace and security. I also want to thank Ms. Shukria Dini for the work that she is doing and for the leadership that she is displaying. We take to heart her recommendations to the Security Council. The focus of this briefing is the situation of women in Somalia. I will go beyond the parliamentary dimension. I will go beyond the election, because, after all, the situation of women in Somalia is the same as the situation of women in many other countries that have a militant terrorist organization on their territory. We have seen and observed the Security Council reflect profound concerns about the situation of women in Afghanistan following the takeover of the State by the Taliban. The fear has been that the pictures and the reality that we saw women go through before the Taliban were overthrown will be reinforced on the women of Afghanistan. As we sit here, there is no guarantee that that will not happen. There were certainly some promises that we heard, but there is no guarantee. Similar to the sort of extremist ideology that we fear will be visited on the women of Afghanistan is the same fearsome ideology that we fear will be visited on the women of Somalia, the women of Kenya, the women of the Horn of Africa, the women of the Sahel and all those women who happen to come into contact with Al-Qaida or with groups that are driven by the Al-Qaida ideology. If we are to talk about women and peace and security, we must also consider the role of such groups as detractors to the safety, security and status of women. Since I arrived in the United States, I have heard the phrase “toxic masculinity” used in the media to describe the behaviour of men that is negative and harmful to women. If one can recall the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant and its depredations; if one can recall the pre-2001 Taliban; if one can recall the areas that Al-Shabaab has held in control and the controls it has put on women against their equality, safety and sexual safety, then one can understand that to embrace the women and peace and security agenda for the situation of women in Somalia is by necessity is to be opposed in a profound fashion to the continuity of Al-Shabaab as a viable military organization and as a potential political player. We want the Security Council to pay attention to that because we do not believe that with the existence of a group, such as Al-Shabaab, which has not seen its capabilities sufficiently degraded under our collective watch, that we can continue to speak only about parliamentary quotas as if solving those will remove that particular challenge. We embrace the 30 per cent quota. We want the 30 per cent quota to move forward, but we also want women to be more involved and integrated in the military and police services. We want women’s voices to be heard across the sector. We want women to be more safeguarded from Al-Shabaab, its ideology and its military and political movement on the ground. And that is not just Somalia. That is Kenya; that is Ethiopia; that is every part of our region where that group has ambitions, because we must remember that Al-Shabaab’s ambitions go beyond Somalia and actually extend into neighbouring countries. We have seen what Al-Shabaab has done to women. I personally have spoken and engaged with women who have been under its control at one time or another. The tale they tell is of unremitting sexual violence and subjugation. I want to recommend to the Security Council that we redouble our efforts against Al-Shabaab, in the understanding that defeating Al-Shabaab, removing its military capability and cutting off its funding is one of the most important initiatives we can undertake on behalf of the women of Somalia and the women of the Horn of Africa. That does not exclude or minimize the concerns that are being expressed in the Chamber today by other delegations. It is only to offer our feedback so that we can have a more rounded picture.

I thank you, Madam President, for organizing this briefing. Focusing on women and peace and security in Somalia is indeed timely. And I thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Ms. Shukria Dini for their briefings and important recommendations. Let me also express our deepest condolences to all those affected by Saturday’s Al-Shabaab attack in Mogadishu, including the family of the Gender Focal Point at the Office of the Prime Minister, Hibaq Abukar. I would like to add three main points on this issue today. First, building an inclusive democracy has been a central goal in the Somali-led and Somali-owned peace and State -building process. However, a significant flaw in the democratic reforms thus far has been the lack of inclusion, particularly of women. Looking at the current figures from the elections to the Upper House, it seems unlikely that women will get more than around 25 per cent of the seats. Yet, Somalia’s ambition should be to move beyond what was already achieved almost five years ago. We therefore urge those responsible at all levels to redouble their efforts and ensure a clear mechanism for implementing the 30 per cent quota in both houses of Parliament. Secondly, achieving the full, equal and meaningful participation of women is about more than implementing the 30 per cent quota, so well described by the Permanent Representative of Kenya at this meeting. The Somali Women’s Charter is designed and promoted by Somali women and provides a solid foundation towards more broad-based and inclusive processes in all reform areas. It deserves our full support. Further, a clear timeline for the implementation of the national action plan on resolution 1325 (2001) should be developed, and we encourage the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia to establish a women’s advisory board that could advise on how the national action plan can be implemented. And thirdly, today’s political crisis demonstrates the need to prioritize national reconciliation. The implementation of the national reconciliation framework could be one such way and may provide women with greater opportunities to participate. Women have shown their capacity to build bridges between clans and act as a first channel for dialogue between parties to conflict, as well as being important influencing agents vis-à-vis elders and others with decision-making authority. And women mobilize resources. To that end, Norway has supported the work of the Ministry of Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation in preparing the Somali women reconciliation action plan, which proposes several concrete activities to strengthen the role of women in peacebuilding and reconciliation. We also support the establishment and training of inclusive networks for reconciliation, in which young people and women have key roles.

Allow me at outset to express our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and to the people and the Government of Somalia following last week’s terrorist attack near the presidential palace in Mogadishu, for which Al-Shabaab has claimed responsibility, which is yet another reminder of how fragile and volatile the situation in Somalia is. I thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed for her briefing on her recent visit to Somalia and commend her efforts to advance the women and peace and security agenda in general and women’s participation in the upcoming elections in Somali in particular. We support all the appeals by Somali women that Ms. Mohammed echoed in her presentation. I also would like to thank Ms. Shukria Dini for briefing us on the activities of the goodwill leaders and civil society to promote the rights of women in Somalia and increase their role and participation in decision-making processes. I thank her for clearly voicing the demands of Somali and the Council. I can assure her that we are very sensitive to those goals. We would like to reiterate the importance of holding free, fair, timely and inclusive elections in Somalia within the time frame agreed by all parties, and we encourage Somalis to continue working to overcome all obstacles to those elections, which are critical for the stabilization and the future of Somalia. We hope in particular that the agreement reached on the 30 per cent minimum quota for women in the parliamentarian elections will be upheld and that it will pave the way to stronger women’s representation and participation in the future. We welcome in that regard the efforts of the Government of Somalia to that end through such actions as the reduction of nomination fees for women candidates and the appointment of goodwill ambassadors and champions to advocate for greater inclusion. At the same time, we share the view that it is important at this stage to agree on how precisely the 30 per cent quota will be implemented. Lastly, while encouraging the Government of Somalia to continue to advocate for the full representation of women at all decision-making levels, we believe that there is a need to address the concerns on the overall situation of Somali women, in particular with regard to the high level of violence and insecurity they face, which is hindering their full participation in political and economic life. We believe that women’s full inclusion in all sectors of society and their economic empowerment would contribute to greater resilience, peace and stability in Somalia

We listened carefully to the briefing of Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed on the outcomes of her trip to the region, as well as the briefing by the representative of Somali civil society, Ms. Shukria Dini. We appreciate the very important political signal that the Deputy Secretary-General’s visit sent to the political forces of Somalia regarding the need to overcome existing conflicts and to expeditiously complete the protracted electoral process. We welcome her focus on enhancing the role of women in Somali political life, particularly with regard to fulfilling the obligation to ensure a 30 per cent quota of women in the future composition of the Federal Parliament. We also had an opportunity to learn more about this thanks to a very detailed press release about her trip that was issued by the Secretariat last week. We believe that the obligation related to the 30 per cent quota is national in scope and character. These obligations were undertaken by the Somali people and we trust they will be able to fulfil them by themselves if given the time and favourable political, socioeconomic and security conditions to do so. Here in the Security Council, we must be guided by the political reality in the country and should set the right priorities. We believe that the Council already sent all the necessary signals in its press statement dated 18 September (SC/14641). The main task of the Somali people in the short term is to complete their national elections. Unfortunately, due to the destabilization of the domestic political situation, the federal authorities were forced to once again postpone the scheduled elections. Now the elections can be expected to conclude no sooner that the end of November. It is extremely important to prevent further degradation of the already critical security situation. Despite the additional measures taken by the Federal Government to prevent terrorist attacks, the Al-Shabaab terrorist groups continues to carry out skilfully planned attacks that use asymmetrical methods to fight Government forces and the contingent from the African Union Mission in Somalia. A good example is the car bomb explosion near the presidential palace in Mogadishu on 25 September, which claimed the lives of at least 10 people. We expect the Secretary-General, the African Union (AU) and Somalia to articulate proposals as to parameters for the continued presence of AU peacekeeping Mission in the country, as required by resolution 2568 (2021). The humanitarian situation in Somalia also remains difficult. According to the latest data, the number of people in need of food and social assistance has reached almost 6 million. In addition, approximately 4 million people are exposed to extreme risk. The number of refugees and internally displaced persons is growing. Since the Deputy Secretary-General’s remit includes providing development assistance to States, we trust that efforts in Somalia to that end will continue and intensify.

I thank Deputy Secretary- General Amina Mohammed for her detailed briefing on the recent visit to Mogadishu. I also thank Ms. Shukria Dini for sharing the perspective of civil society in Somalia. As we continue to closely monitor developments in Somalia, I would like to underline the importance of keeping our priorities very clear. Somalia has witnessed a long period of uncertainty with regard to the elections for legislative bodies mandated by the transitional constitution. Therefore, the holding of elections and formation of a new Government is of the utmost priority for Somalia today. We hope that the Somali leadership will continue to move forward with the ongoing process of elections. The international community and the United Nations need to continue supporting those efforts. In that context, we welcome the visit of the Deputy Secretary-General and the message of solidarity that the visit conveyed to the people of Somalia. The peaceful conduct of elections within the agreed timelines and in accordance with the 17 September and 27 May agreements is important for the democratic future of Somalia. We also note that the Somali political leadership, both at the level of the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states, have shown their commitment to the election process. In view of recent developments reflecting disagreement within the Somali Government, the ongoing elections to the Upper House is reassuring. We hope that elections to the Lower House will also be held as scheduled. India supports the call for the inclusion of women across all sectors of society in order to advance peace and stability in Somalia. We believe that the 30 per cent quota for women’s representation in Parliament is very achievable, given the fact that women candidates won 24 per cent of parliamentary seats in its most recent elections. Women can play a vital role in conflict resolution and post-conflict reconciliation. We support a greater role for women in the decision-making process. Lastly, the delays in holding the elections have enabled Al-Shabaab to consolidate its hold and further gain ground. The recent attacks carried out by Al-Shabaab demonstrate that trend. We strongly condemn the 25 September Al-Shabaab terrorist attacks. We also share some of the concerns and points outlined by the Permanent Representative of Kenya with regard to Al-Shabaab. We reiterate our full support to the operations conducted by the Somali forces and the African Union Mission in Somalia against Al-Shabaab. We cannot afford to lose sight of our fight against terrorism while we focus on the ongoing elections.

I would like to thank Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed and Ms. Dini for their insightful briefings. We are encouraged by Deputy Secretary-General’s recent visit to Somalia to support the role of women worldwide, particularly in Somalia. Amid myriad challenges faced by Somalia, the visit played an important role in facilitating the electoral process in the country. It also helped highlight notable progress in the participation and representation of women in the political and peace process in Somalia. It is encouraging to learn about positive results from various projects that have provided valuable supports for women in Somalia. We also welcome the engagement by leaders of Somalia in those efforts. It is all the more heartening given that attempts to promote broader participation of women in various countries, not least Somalia, continue to face considerable headwinds, including on the political, social and cultural fronts. With regard to numerous issues going forward, we would like to stress several points. First, as the Deputy Secretary-General highlighted, parliamentary elections are an opportunity to build on the progress made in women’s political participation and to contribute to greater resilience, peace and stability in Somalia. However, much remains to be done. We urge the Government of Somalia and related parties to create conditions for women to participate in political life. The 30 per cent quota representation of women in the Parliament should be guaranteed. A specific mechanism for implementing that criterion should also be agreed upon. Long-term peace and prosperity in Somalia depend on it. We would also like to reiterate the need for continued international support for women’s full inclusion in all sectors of society, especially in the upcoming elections. It is also important to create a favourable environment and to step up protection measures for civilians in the electoral process. The preparations for the upcoming elections should be addressed from both the protection and participation angles. Adequate institutionalization of the role of women in this process will help bring about long-term inclusions of women in political, security and socioeconomic mechanisms. Secondly, we strongly condemn the egregious sexual violence and attacks, including those against civilians, especially women and children. Recently, on 25 September, terrorist attacks took the lives of at least eight people, including Hibaq Abukar, the Advisor for Women’s Affairs and Human Rights in the Office of the Prime Minister, a person, the Secretary- General said, who was a tireless advocate for women’s rights in Somalia. We would like to express our deep condolences to the families of the victims and urge that the perpetrators of the violence be brought to justice. Thirdly, Somalia continues to face a number of long-standing thread and challenges, including desert locusts, floods and the coronavirus disease pandemic. It goes without saying that women and girls will be among those who suffer most. In this regard, we call on international partners to further assist the Government of Somalia in evaluating the socioeconomic impacts of these threats, especially the development of women-owned projects. This must go hand in hand with addressing the deep-rooted economic issues facing Somalia, especially in the area of agricultural development. Only with such assistance can the Government and the people of Somalia overcome long- term challenges and try to achieve sustained stability and security. In conclusion, I would like to pay tribute to various United Nations agencies, especially the Office of the Deputy Secretary-General, UN-Women and the United Nations Support Office in Somalia, for their commitment to peace and development in the country, and especially to the future of and for the women of Somalia. We reiterate our full support for the international community’s efforts aimed at ensuring that the voices of women are heard, that their needs and concerns are addressed and that the roles they play and the contributions they make in bringing peace and stability to Somalia are both enhanced and recognized.

I thank Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed for being with us today. I also thank Ms. Shukria Dini for her comments and recommendations. The United States acknowledges with gratitude the civilian and uniformed personnel working in Somalia to serve the international community in an extremely challenging environment. We would also like to extend our appreciation to Ireland and Mexico as Chairs of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security of the Security Council. We welcome the considerable progress that has been made on elections in Somalia over the past three months, yet it is imperative that the current dispute between the President and Prime Minister not disrupt the process and that it be resolved peacefully. Moreover, as Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed highlighted today, there remain aspects of the process requiring continued focus and attention. Because women are often the victims of discrimination and oppression, it is vital that their voices are heard at the highest levels of Government. This is why it is critical to finalize arrangements for meeting the 30 per cent quota for women’s representation in Parliament, pursuant to Somali political agreements. As Ireland and Mexico outlined in the annex to their 19 July letter to the Secretary-General (S/2021/668), women active in the political system are more likely than men to experience harassment and violence during the electoral period. In the past, women candidates have even been kidnapped and killed. Efforts aimed at promoting inclusion and participation should include completing election security preparations with a gender-sensitive lens to ensure voting can take place in a safe and secure environment. We know societies that empower women are more stable, peaceful and prosperous, both economically and politically. The United States is actively engaged with partners across the globe in supporting efforts to aimed at advancing women’s participation in political and security decision-making. We call on all States Members of the United Nations to adopt and implement national action plans and strategies on women, peace and security. Together we must make it a priority to elevate and amplify women’s voices, ensure they are heard, protect the safety and security of women and girls, and make certain that they can lead meaningfully in promoting international peace and security. The world is safer and more prosperous when women and girls are at the table, supported and heard. As we noted in August, during consideration of the mandate reauthorization of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia, this is a moment of tremendous opportunity for Somalia (see S/PV.8833), and we urge the Government to do its utmost to adhere to established electoral timelines and continue promoting cooperation between the Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states. Despite encouraging signs, much more work needs to be done to make a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Somalia a reality for all of Somalia’s people.

I thank Ms. Amina Mohammed and Ms. Shukria Dini, for their briefings, which have given us an insight into the involvement of women in the political process in Somalia. We offer our condolences to the families of the victims, the people and the Government of Somalia following the latest deadly attack. We wish to express our concern about the forms of violence directed against women. We welcome the positive progress in the implementation of the quota for women in the most recent elections. We encourage and urge Somali leaders and political actors to do more to achieve the 30 percent quota for women in future elections. It is clear that the ongoing electoral process is a catalyst for the improvement of the condition of women in Somalia, including their political, administrative and economic involvement, which is why the international community in general and the Security Council in particular are interested in ensuring that the electoral process is inclusive and participatory.

Before I begin my formal remarks, I would like to extend the condolences of my country, Mexico, to all the families who suffered losses in the Al-Shabaab terrorist attack in Mogadishu a few days ago. I welcome Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed to the Council Chamber today and thank her for her briefing. I also welcome and thank Ms. Shukria Dini. Deputy Secretary-General Mohammed’s recent visit to Somalia was an opportunity not only for a timely expression of support to thousands of women in the country, but also a reminder of the international community’s ongoing follow-up to its commitments in this area. We consider today’s briefing to be a great complement to the work of the Informal Expert Group on Women and Peace and Security of the Security Council as regards the situation in Somalia. As we have previously stated in the Council, the future of Somalia depends on the full and equal meaningful participation of women in the political process and other spheres of public life. Women’s involvement is indispensable to achieving sustainable peace and development. Accordingly, we stress the importance of intensifying the efforts aimed at fulfilling the Somalis’ own commitment to achieving at least 30 percent representation of women. We also continue to advocate truly inclusive elections. It is of concern to my country that no federated state has so far achieved the 30 percent quota in the Upper House elections. In addition to financial constraints, candidates face a number of challenges, including security challenges, fear and intimidation. It is imperative to strengthen protection for women candidates so as to ensure their participation in the electoral process. It is equally important that recently elected women be provided with the support and resources necessary to carry out their legislative functions effectively and without fear. Mexico condemns all forms of violence against women and threats to their security. Protecting them against all forms of violence, including conflict- related sexual violence and discrimination, must be a priority. Of equal importance are the finalization of the national action plan on women and peace and security, ratifying and fully implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and adopting laws to criminalize sexual and gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation, marital rape and child marriage. The formation of the new Parliament represents an opportunity to reintroduce the 2018 Sexual Offences Bill and establish a zero-tolerance policy on female genital mutilation, among others. Similarly, my country calls on the Somali Government to fulfil its commitments on gender mainstreaming in security sector institutions. More must also be done to ensure women’s access to equal educational and employment opportunities. For its part, the international community must support the Federal Government of Somalia in strengthening its capacities, not only with regard to ensuring the electoral process, but also the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based violence. Lastly, concerning recent political developments, we reiterate the importance of resolving differences through dialogue for the benefit of Somalia and prioritizing the peaceful holding of transparent, credible and inclusive elections. Discord among key political voices must not be allowed to jeopardize the gains made in the country.

We thank you, Madam President, for convening this very timely meeting. We fully support the inclusion of the women and peace and security agenda in all country-specific discussions. We believe that this cross-cutting approach is crucial to the implementation of the normative framework of the Security Council’s resolutions. I thank in particular the Deputy Secretary-General for her presence among us and for taking the initiative to call for this meeting upon her return from her mission to East Africa. I also thank Ms. Dini for having brought the voices of Somali women to this forum. We share the concerns and the recommendations that were voiced. The increase in sexual and gender- based violence is unacceptable. Those responsible for the violence must be held accountable for their actions. Moreover, we also call for the imposition of sanctions on the perpetrators of those violations in accordance with the relevant Security Council resolutions. The feminist diplomacy that is being pursued by France prioritizes the universal implementation of the women and peace and security agenda. That was the overarching purpose the Generation Equality Forum, which was held in Paris and co-organized with UN-Women and Mexico in June. The Forum has launched a mechanism to monitor the implementation of the women and peace and security agenda, entitled “Compact on Women, Peace and Security and Humanitarian Action”, 20 years after the historic adoption of resolution 1325 (2000) that inaugurated the agenda. At the Forum, States committed themselves to ensuring the full and equal participation of women in all relevant spheres. That is especially urgent in Somalia. Change must occur in all areas of society. Today, as several of my colleagues have recalled, almost one in three girls in Somalia has undergone female genital mutilation. One in twelve girls is married before the age of 15. France urges Somalia to uphold its international and regional commitments by adopting appropriate legislation for the protection of women and girls and to prosecute, convict and punish the perpetrators of all acts of sexual and gender-based violence. It is obvious that the awakening of political power and the awareness of the imperative, legitimate and fair inclusion of half of the population in the decisions concerning the future of the country will be facilitated when the quota of 30 per cent for the parliamentary representation of women is fulfilled. Today’s meeting also reminds us of the cost of inaction. The current political crisis is paralysing Somalia. As is often the case, women are being disproportionately affected. Elections must be held without delay in accordance with the September 2020 and May 2021 agreements, as the Council recalled on 18 September. The Federal Government of Somalia and the federal member states must work together to ensure that the electoral deadlines are met. Finally, there is an urgent need to address the security situation. As my Kenyan colleague recalled, the presence of Al-Shabaab in a large part of Somalia poses a constant threat to all Somalis, especially women, who are victims of violence and forced marriage. We must pursue our efforts to combat that group. The Somali transition plan must be fully implemented, with the support of all Somalia’s regional and international partners. As provided for in resolution 2568 (2021), the fight also includes the establishment of a reconfigured African Union mission beginning in 2022. France commends the work of the United Nations in Somalia and the courage of all civil society actors who are working daily on the ground to defend the rights of Somali women.

I join others in thanking the Deputy Secretary-General for her briefing and undertaking her visit to draw attention to the importance of women’s political participation. I would also like to sincerely thank Ms. Dini for sharing her insights. Estonia is deeply concerned about the ongoing disagreement between President Farmajo and Prime Minister Roble. We urge all parties to avoid actions that could lead to violence, resolve their differences urgently through dialogue and prioritize the peaceful holding of transparent, credible and inclusive elections within the agreed timelines. Successfully completing elections is the only way through which broader State-building efforts can continue, and therefore it must remain a priority. Since the elections lay the foundation for the next chapter for Somalia, the importance of women’s participation cannot be overemphasized. Therefore, we call on Somali leaders to live up to their commitment to ensuring the implementation of the 30 per cent quota of women in the elections in order to safeguard women’s political representation. We also see the need to do more to advance women’s rights in society more broadly. Estonia is alarmed by the increase of sexual and gender-based violence. Too many Somali women and children remain trapped in a cycle of violence, and that requires the urgent attention of Somali authorities. Estonia calls on the Federal Government to accelerate the adoption of a new national action plan for ending sexual violence in conflict. It is also crucial that women’s rights be codified in the revised constitution and other legal frameworks. Greater resilience, peace and stability in Somalia can be achieved only through the full inclusion of women in all sectors of society. In order to provide a better life not only for Somali women, but all Somali people, defeating Al-Shabaab must remain a priority for the Government. In that regard, we call on the Federal Government to accelerate the implementation of the Somali transition plan to make a liberated Somalia a reality. Allow me to conclude by reiterating Estonia’s full support for Somalia and its people.

I shall now make a statement in my capacity as the representative of Ireland. I thank the Deputy Secretary-General for her leadership in general, but in particular today in supporting women’s political participation in Somalia. I also sincerely thank Ms. Dini for joining us today. I know that the Irish Foreign Minister greatly appreciated her insights when she met with him in Mogadishu in July. I was particularly struck by her heartfelt presentation today. I express my deep condolences to the families of the victims of the attacks this weekend, including Ms. Abukar, whose death is truly a tragic reminder of the toll that Somalia’s conflicts continue to extract from the women of Somalia, including those courageously working for change. Let us be clear: the world over, there is a direct correlation between the political participation of women and the stability, peace and prosperity of their societies. Women’s participation in every aspect of public life is a sine qua non for sustained peace and security. In Somalia, the upcoming national elections represent an opportunity to build on progress already made and to see women assume their rightful place at the helm of their society. Encouraging, in 2019, the landmark Somalia Women’s Charter set a target for women’s participation in all aspects of Somali public life at 50 per cent. The leaders of the Federal Government and federal member states took the next steps towards that goal when they recommitted to the 30 per cent quota for women’s representation for the upcoming parliamentary elections. The measures subsequently taken to reduce registration fees for women candidates, appoint goodwill ambassadors to advocate for greater women’s inclusion and to enhance security arrangements for women candidates were also very welcome as practical steps to bolter that effort. However, just over a month ago in this very Chamber, we heard from our civil society sister, Ms. Gaballe, that a concrete mechanism to implement the 30 per cent quota “remains elusive and challenging” (S/PV.8833, p.7). I urge Somalia’s leaders to take further measures to translate their commitments into practice, including by reserving 30 per cent of the seats in both houses of Parliament for women. We continue to receive reports that women political candidates are held back by insecurity and intimidation. That cannot stand. The Somali Government must do everything in its power to create a safe environment for all women candidates. I encourage all stakeholders to adopt a holistic approach to empowering women, including by providing post-election support to newly elected women parliamentarians to facilitate their fulfilling their legislative role. I am deeply alarmed at the shocking increases in sexual and gender-based violence and in conflict- related sexual violence, as outlined by Special Representative of the Secretary-General Pramila Patten recently. During his visit to Somalia in July, Ireland’s Foreign Minister heard first-hand from women civil society leaders working both to provide protection to survivors and to challenge the conditions that allow that violence to flourish. I urge the Somali authorities to take immediate steps to protect women and girls from all forms of violence, including sexual and gender-based violence. I also call on Somali authorities to immediately carry out a credible investigation into the disappearance of Ms. Ikran Tahlil. The political participation of women and their protection from violence go hand in hand. Only by tackling gender inequality, including through the political participation of women, will we be able to root out gender-based violence. At this crucial moment for Somalia’s political future, I believe the Somali leadership has the courage to set aside differences and to put the people of Somalia first. We cannot allow further delays in the electoral process. I urge Somalia’s leaders to urgently implement the electoral process, including, importantly, the 30 per cent women’s quota. Somalia’s people — Somalia’s women — deserve no less. I now resume my functions as President of the Council. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers.