Women's Rights in Somalia: Women's Role in Conflict Resolution

The overthrow of President Said Barre in 1991 marked a turning point in Somali politics, economy and society. Since then, Somalia has suffered from civil-war, widespread famine, broken infrastructure, rampant human and civil rights abuses, poverty, human trafficking, rape, murder and corruption at every level of society from the Warlords to the merchants on the streets of Mogadishu selling 70$ AK47's and rocket propelled grenades fresh out of the box. Basically no one is safe in Somalia. The State Department straight up tells people to avoid Somalia altogether with good reason. With all these problems facing Somalia, hope is still alive through the efforts of determined Somali women representing any number of the 20 plus women's organizations that are running and operating in Somalia to promote peace and conciliation between the two warring factions that control North and South Mogadishu divided only by the Green Line, a no-man's zone where arms dealers dominate the markets. Women have been the primary victims of a de-centralized war-torn nation and they at this point may be the only hope that Somalia has of ever reaching a legitimate cease-fire and progress towards decreasing violence and reaching political/economic stability in Somalia.