Somali Women Journalist Organization holds a launching event to present gender equality and media regulation study, Somalia.

13^th June, 2023. Mogadishu, Somalia- Somali Women Journalist Organization holds a launching event to present Gender equality and media regulation Study, Somalia, today in Mogadishu. Media directors/ practitioners, civil society members and government officials were among the attendees. This study was developed under auspices of International media support (IMS) and Fojo media institute development programme in Somalia.

The event was opened with keynote speech from dignitaries and respective representatives. Deputy chair committee of media and telecommunication of Somali parliament, MP Mohamed Hassan Mohamed (Murjaan) on his opening remarks said “as a committee, we pledge to stand with women in media to have seat at table in decision making and leadership roles in Somali media”. He further emphasized the importance of this study for the media and female media practitioners in particular.

Abukar Albadri, IMS-Fojo’s Somali programme coordinator, stated also in opening remarks “this study is not only about the Somali media, but it is about the human rights laws of the country in general”.

Ahmed Ainab, a veteran media practitioner and academician, presented the study to the participants where he placed great emphasis on not only disseminating knowledge but also ensuring its accurate perception and understanding by the participants

MP, Mohamed Ibrahim Mo’alimo, stated in his keynote speech, “There has been a significant change in Somali media houses over the years. Are we where we wanted to be, No.  Awareness raising is much need to be done and the laws to be made or reviewed”.

Farhia Mohamed Kheyre, SWJO’s chairperson, closed the event and thanked the participants and underlined the importance of study and benefits for the media. A Somali translated version of study will distributed to all media houses across the country. Farhia also said in her closing note ‘SWJO has conducted a similar study, – called baseline study in 2016, with the aim to understand and improve the working conditions of Somali female journalists”.