Women join forces to enter the local police force in Armo, Somalia
by Suban Mohamed
Women and girls comprise about 70 % of the population of Armo district, which is located in the Bari Region of Puntland, Somalia, and 90 km south of Bosaso (the business hub of Puntland). Yet until very recently the local police force was completely male dominated.
One of these women is 26 year old Deqa Amed Salah, who was born in Mogadishu but settled in Armo following the civil war that broke out in 1991. A mother of two young boys, Deqa has always had aspirations to be an officer of the law, to ensure stability and safety in her community. She started training in the Police Academy in Armo in 2008, but given women’s marginalization in the security sector, she was not able to find work in the police force after graduation.
In recent years, there has been a growing concern among women in Armo about the absence of female representative in the local police station. The major concern was that women and girls did not feel comfortable approaching the local police station if there was a case to be reported pertaining to a female victim. Women or girls who had been victims of Gender Based Violence were less likely to report the incident because they felt ashamed to do so to a man. During weekly sensitization meetings that women hold in Armo, the decision was taken to lobby for Deqa Ahmed Salah to start working at the local police station.
A group of women, including activists, youth groups, and community based organizations, approached the Mayor and Chief of Police to request that Deqa become the first police woman in their district. And they were successful.
To date, Deqa, along with the Chief of Police, have conducted several workshops on community safety tips for women, informing them on how they can play a role in keeping the peace. She acts as a mediator between women’s groups, and advocates for women empowerment.
“It feels good to know that women are more likely to come forward in search of justice now that I am here in the police station working for them,” says Deqa.
Deqa is a beneficiary of a two year initiative that is being implemented by Adeso in Puntland, Somalia, with funding from the European Union. The initiative is aimed at promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in peace building processes and political participation in Somalia. Promoting Participation for Development of Peace and Security in Puntland (PROWOPP) provides consistent capacity development through technical support, institutional capacity building and training on various thematic areas, including: policy and advocacy; conflict resolution; and monitoring evaluation. In addition, 100 men are receiving training on inclusion of women in local governance issue, decision making and peace processes in order to make more space for women’s participation in political and civil processes.