Somali Journalist Women Organization (SWJO) concludes a two day event of the sexual harassment handbooks’ presentation and distribution.

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA-23^rd February, 2023- Somali journalist women organization (SWJO) in partnership with IMS-fojo concludes a two day meeting event for a grand presentation and distribution of sexual harassments’ handbook for media houses to use it as guideline or train journalists on sexual harassment related issues. More than 30 participants- from media houses, government official and civil society personal,-have attended the meeting.

The two day event was opened with remarks from dignitary attendees of the media, welcoming the notion of the handbook and, it is followed by detailed presentation of the handbook. On the second day, the attendees had an in-depth knowledge sharing and discussions on the issues and points in the handbook and the how it could help create a health work environment for the media and, – they have all agreed the importance to use the handbook as guideline.

Farhia Kheyre, SWJO’s chairperson has underlined the importance of this handbook to the media houses and practitioners in general. We have tailored to suit our culture and religion and, re-wrote it, added, Farhia. IMS-fojos’ representative, Abukar Al-badri, reiterated the importance of the handbook for the media. It is a guide for the employee and employer, stated, Mr. Al-badri.

The current Somali media’s conditions of sexual harassments and the lack of gender policy in media remains unaddressed. SWJO believes the distribution of the sexual harassment handbook to media houses could lead to a permanent gender policy for the foreseeable future in media.

SWJO will hold this grand opening in Garowe as well on 25^th and 26^th of February, and distribute the rest of media houses throughout the country on the coming days ahead.