Statement by the UNFPA Representative for Somalia Mr. Anders Thomsen on World Population Day

Mogadishu, 11 July, 2020 – The unprecedented fight against gender-based violence and harmful practices; including Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and early marriage should be prioritized as part of the wider efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 among the Somali population. 

According to the recently published Somali Health and Demographic Survey (SHDS), annually, one in 10 ever-married women experience physical violence perpetrated by their spouse. Lockdown measures to contain COVID-19 and the resultant economic impacts are associated with increasing household tensions, which are likely to result to an upward surge in the cases of spousal violence. 

FGM is almost universally practised in Somalia, despite years of campaigns and the negative impact associated with the practice. According to SHDS, 99 percent of women have undergone FGM of which two out of three have weathered the extreme form of mutilation.  Girls in Somalia, forced to stay at home due to COVID-19, are now undergoing FGM in their homes. COVID-19 could have a far-reaching impact on the effort to end FGM, with a potential 2 million FGM cases occurring over the next decade that could have otherwise been averted.

FGM has lifelong consequences for girls, has no health benefits and harms girls and women in many ways. FGM promotes early marriage among girls, a practice that robs girls of life opportunities stopping them from reaching their full potential.

Further, the SHDS report shows that 33 percent of women are married by age 18 and 140 per 1000 women aged 15 to 19 years have given birth. The COVID-19 pandemic puts the young Somali girls at a greater risk of early marriage and pregnancies potentially killing hopes of bettering their lives and that of their families. 

Maternal mortality in Somalia remains high with 1 in 20 women aged 15 expected to die of pregnancy/birth-related complications by age 49. FGM, early marriage, low uptake of modern contraception at only 1 percent, and poor uptake of anti-natal care compounded by high unskilled and home deliveries contribute to high maternal mortality rates. COVID-19 cases are already straining health facilities a situation that is likely to contribute significantly to a reduction in anti-natal care attendance and an increase in home deliveries.   

UNFPA calls for the speedy passage of the Sexual Offences Bill and FGM Bill in Somalia. These are vital in preventing and criminalizing all sexual offences and eradicating FGM.

On this World Population Day, we call attention to the vulnerabilities and needs of women and girls during the COVID-19 crisis, and why protecting sexual and reproductive health and rights and ending the shadow pandemic of gender-based violence is imperative, especially in these challenging times.

Bayaan kasoo baxay wakiilka Soomaaliya ee Sanduuqa Qaramada Midoobay ee Dadweynaha (UNFPA), Mudane. Anders Thomsen oo ku aadan xuska Maalinta Dadweynaha Aduunka

Muqdisho, Luulyo 11, 2020 – Waa in lasiiya ahmiyad gaar ah dadaalada muuqda ee lagaga soo horjeedo xadgudbayada ka dhanka ah jinsiga iyo ku dhaqanka ficilada foosha xun oo ay ka mid tahay gudniinka gabdhaha iyo guurka gabdhaha da’dooda eey aad u yartahay si loo yareeyo saameyntooda inta lagu jiro cudurka safmarka ah ee COVID-19 guud ahaan bulshaweynta soomaaliyeed.

Sida laga soo xigtay warbixintii lasoo saaray dhawaan ee Sahminta Caafimaadka iyo Tira Koobka Dadka Soomaaliyeed (SHDS), Sanadkiiba, tobankii haween ah ee la qaba hal ka mid ah ayaa loo geystay xadgudbka jirrka ah uuna u geystay ninkeeda. Sidoo kale talaaboyinka lagu hakiyay dhaq dhaqaaqa si uusan u faafin cudurka COVID-19 iyo saameynta weyn oo u ku yeeshay xaga dhaqaalaha ayaa sababtay in ay badato culeysyada dhaqaale ee qoysaska tasoo ka dhalatay inay badato xadgudubyada ka dhax dhaca qoysaska.

Gudniinka gabdhaha waa mid si guud caado u ah guud ahaan Soomaalida, in kastoo sanada badan lawaday olole loogu soo af jarayo saameeynta raad ka  xun ee la xiriirta caadadaan. Sida laga soo xigtay warbixinta SHDS, sagaashan iyo sagaal boqolkiiba (99%) haweenka Somaalida ayaa laguday kuwaas oo seddexdii haweenba  laba kamid ah la marsiyay gudniinka kiisa ugu daran. Gabdhaha ku nool Soomaaliya ayaa ah kuwa lagu qasbay inay joogan guryahooda si aanay u qaadin cudurka safmarka ah ee COVID-19, lkn waxay taas fursad unoqotay in lagudo gabdhihii maadaama eey guryahooda joogan. COVID-19 wuxuu saameyn weyn ku yeeshay dadaaladii socday ee lagu ciribtiri lahaa gudniinka gabdhaha guud ahaan Caalamka gaar ahaan Soomaaliya, waxaa suurtagal ah inay 2 milyan oo gabdhood gudniinkoda dhacaan toban ka sano ee soo socda taasoo ahaan laheed mid wax laga badali karay.

Gudniinka wuxu lee yahay sameyn aan ka harayn nolasha gabdhaha, mana lahan faaido caafimaad waxa uuna ku reebaa dhibaatoyin badan haweenka iyo gabdhaha. Gudniinka gabdhaha waxa uu dowr ka ciyaaraa guurka gabdhaha aadka u da’yar, waana dhaqan aan u ogaleyn inay gabdhaha helaan fursadaha ugu muhiimsan ee noloshooda si aay u gaaran hamigooda ayna u dhistaan mustaqbalkooda.

Sidoo kale, warbixinta SHDS ayaa qeexaysa in sodon iyo seddex boqolkiiba (33%) haweenka la guursaday iyagoo ah 18 jir, halka 1000 haweenba 140 kamid ah da’doodana u dhaxeesa 15 ilaa 19 sano ay dhaleen caruur. Cudurka safmarka ah ee COVID-19 aya khatar galinaya gabdhaha da'da yar ee Soomaaliyeed in ay kor u kacdo tirada gabdhaha iyagoo aad u da’yar guursada iyo inay iyagoo da’dooda yartahay qaadan uur taasoo saameyn ku leh caafimaadkooda ayna sababto in aysan ka fikirin sidii ay ku noolan lahaayeen mustaqbal fiican ayaga iyo qoysaskooda. 

Dhimashada hooyada ee Soomaaliya wali waa mid aad u badan, 20 kii haween ee uur leh oo ay da’dooduna tahay 15 jir waxaa suurtagal ah hal ka mid ah in ay u dhimato sababa la xiriira uurka iyo foosha marka loo eego da’da 49 jirka. Waxaa kaloo sababaya dhimashada hooyadda Gudniinka gabdhaha, Gursiga gabdhaha aadka u da’da yar iyo  inay yar tahay oo ay tahay boqolkiiba hal (1%) inta qaadata ama isticmaasho daawoyinka lagu kalakoriyo caruurta, sidoo kale  xirfad la’aanta shaqaalaha bixiyo adeega caafimaadka ee hooyada xiliga ay uurka leedahay  iyo guryaha oo lagu dhaliyo haweenka ayaa ka qeyb qaadanaya inay kororto tirada dhimashada hooyada. Bukaanda qaba COVID-19 ayaa cadaadis saaray Xaruumaha caafimadka,, xaaladaas oo sababi karta inay ka qeyb qaadato hoos u dhaca adeegyada caafimad ee hooyada xiliga uurka aayna badato dhalmada guryaha.

Hay’adda UNFPA waxay ku baaqeysaa dar dar galinta sidii lagu meel marin lahaa Sharciga Dambiyada iyo Xadgudubyada ku saleysan Jinsiga iyo Sharciga Gudniinka ee Soomaaliya. Labadaan sharci waxey ka hortagayaan dambiyada iyo xadgudubyada ku salaysan jinsiga iyo ciqaabidda dambiileyaasha iyo ciribtirka gudniinka gabdaha.

Maalinta Dadweynaha Aduunka, waxaan ku baaqeynaa in loo dhaga nuglaado haweenka iyo gabdhaha nugul ama baahida gaarka ah qaba inta lagu guda jiro cudurka safmarka ee COVID-19, sidoo kale loo dhaga.

UNFPA inquiries: please contact Ms. Pilirani Semu-Banda, Communications and Partnerships Specialist, UNFPA Somalia, Tel: +254 734500439; semu-banda@unfpa.org