MOGADISHU \u2014 The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Salah Ahmed Jama, has received a UN Women delegation headed by Anna Mutavati, Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, to enhance collaboration between Somalia\u2019s government and the UN agency.<\/p>\n
The discussion centered on promoting women\u2019s leadership, increasing political involvement, and broadening initiatives that safeguard and empower Somali women and girls.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Commends UN Women\u2019s Support<\/p>\n
The Deputy Prime Minister acknowledged UN Women\u2019s ongoing support for Somali women, highlighting the need to intensify efforts to enable women to take more active roles in state-building, governance, and peace initiatives.<\/p>\n
Deputy Prime Minister Jama has previously announced government plans to incorporate more women into the country\u2019s maritime sector, stating that the country must empower more women to improve the whole value chain in the maritime sector.<\/a> \u201cWomen have a critical role to play in this value chain,\u201d he said while launching the national action plan for the Women in Maritime Sector (WiMS).<\/p>\n UN Women Reaffirms Commitment<\/p>\n In response, Anna Mutavati commended the Somali government\u2019s advancements in addressing women\u2019s concerns and reaffirmed UN Women\u2019s dedication to deepening cooperation and continuing assistance to Somalia.<\/p>\n The Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, recently unveiled the second phase of the Women\u2019s Peace and Protection Joint Programme (WPP-II), a two-year initiative supported by the United Nations, implemented by UN Women and UNDP with technical assistance from UNTMIS.<\/a> The initiative aims to reach up to 42,000 people across the nation, focusing on at-risk populations such as internally displaced persons, minority communities, and women with disabilities.<\/p>\n Legislative Milestones for Women\u2019s Empowerment<\/p>\n The meeting comes amid significant legislative progress for women\u2019s rights in Somalia. A mandatory 30 percent women\u2019s quota has been integrated into both the Electoral Law and the Political Parties Law \u2014 a historic structural move toward ensuring inclusive, nationwide political engagement.<\/a> New legislation addressing gender-based violence, the federal ban on female genital mutilation (FGM), and the comprehensive Family Law have substantially enhanced legal protections for women.<\/p>\n Family Ministry Engages UN Women on Gender Equality<\/p>\n The Deputy Prime Minister\u2019s meeting follows similar high-level engagements between Somali institutions and UN Women. In December 2025, the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development convened a senior-level meeting with UN Women officials, renewing their joint dedication to promoting women\u2019s empowerment and gender equality throughout Somalia.<\/a> The talks focused on intensifying collaboration to expand gender initiatives, such as those enhancing women\u2019s involvement, safeguards, and economic empowerment.<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Role in Peacebuilding and Humanitarian Response<\/p>\n