Somalia plans to enact laws to curb gender-based violence

The Somali government has promised to enact strict laws to curb cases of gender-based violence in the Horn of Africa nation.

Attorney General, Ahmed Ali Dahir, said the government was in the process of reviewing the Penal Code to include harsher penalties on crimes such as gender-based violence.

"We are in the process of reviewing and amending many sections and this will create appropriate penalties," said Dahir during a symposium on gender-based violence held in Mogadishu.

According to a statement from the African Union mission released on Monday, Dahir said the laws have to be constantly reviewed and amended to make them relevant with the times.

The symposium, which is part of the Safe Cities Campaign, was attended by youths, federal and regional administration officials and members of the civil society.

"We are now reviewing the Penal Code Act and the process is going on well," Dahir said, noting that the amendments will, among others, criminalize female genital mutilation, which is rife in Somalia, and help tackle other vices such as cybercrime.

Dahir urged the public to cooperate with the government to make the process successful by obeying the new laws once they come into force.

AMISOM Gender Officer Ahmed Mane called on participants to explore ways on how they can curb violence against women.

"Let us discuss and explore avenues of how we can eradicate violence against women. Let us fight and eradicate sexual and gender-based violence in Somalia, especially abuses that target the Somali woman. Let us know the various roles that the government, the community and the youth can play in order to curb this vice," Mane said.

The females in Somalia, like in other parts of the world, are often subjected to various types of violence, a problem that prompted AMISOM, the federal government and members of the civil society to initiate programs to educate the public on the importance of protecting the rights of women and children. Endit