By: Anfa Amin, GLED Somalia

Mogadishu (08/03/2006) GLED Somalia marked the International Women's Day on Wednesday as national women’s day by various events in Mogadishu, Baidoa, and Hudur of Somalia.
In the opening of a celebration in Baidoa the Prime minister of Somalia Ali Mohamed Gedi said “Not Only memorials but we have to do action to ensure the women rights” adding that “I am sure women in Somalia are the cornerstone of the Socio-economy, Political, and community in Somalia”. The Prime Minister pledged that his government will give more rights to women.
At a media briefing in a press conference in Mogadishu, the chairman of GLED Somalia Abukar Albadri stated women as the sight of the eyes, he said “No one can go with out the sight of the eyes, and women is like that” adding that “regardless off the killing, raping, harming, torture women help men to survive”.
Albadri called on the Somali authorities to come with the solution of the Arms in the hands of the people.
He stated the gun as the master of the drought and insecurity in Somalia; he said “Where there is gun there is no life”.
The minister for women and family affairs of Somalia Fowsiya Mohamed Sheikh urged the women to stand for their rights and fight for protection.
She said “My Ministry stands to protect women from physical harm, assault, abuse and rape, but the situation is barricade to us” adding that “I am sure women can do more than men can do”
For the 31st anniversary of international women’s day as national day, GLED Somalia handed 40 women certificates after they finished one year course of computer programs, secretarial duties, sewing skills, and cloth colouring.
GLED Somalia also gave other one year chance for other fifty women who will benefit from GLED’s Vocational training center with out charge.
Madina Mohamed Ali, 21 years old single mother who benefited from GLED’s Vocational training center praised the GLED Somalia.
Madina said “I am delighted to take this opportunity to say thanks to GLED, because they enabled us chance to work” adding that “Now I am sure I know skills to get job, and I request GLED to continue the chances they give the women especially teenage girls”.
Abdulahi Mohamed Shirwa, an outstanding peace activist in Mogadishu speaking in the ceremony said “The intelligence can’t accept what we are doing on women, and they are still providing us their kind” adding that “GLED is Symbolic for the peace and the development of the women rights, I am sure where there is peace the rights come”
Although the day was market in many parts of Somalia, unfortunately the situation of women is not good.
The women are excessively affected by Drought, Insecurity and diseases, while the last year more than 124 women were raped or met sexual harassment.
During this year more than 53 women died for wounds caused by GUN, while more than 60% of the people those are affected by the acute droughts are women.
In Somalia the access to birth control, pre-and post-natal care, and HIV prevention, testing, and counselling, among other basic services, are missing and women don’t have access to take control of their lives.
International Women’s Day is celebrated in many countries around the world. But in Somalia it is a national day when women are recognized for their rights without regard to discrimination, whether national, ethnic, Religion, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It is an occasion for looking back on past struggles and accomplishments of women and for looking ahead to the potential opportunities that await future generations of women.
In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations began celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March. Two years later, in December 1977, the General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day f or Women's Rights and International Peace to be observed on any day of the year by Member States, in accordance with their historical and national traditions.
Then Somalia adopted the day as national and started to celebrate with the women in adopting the UN resolution, while the former government of Somalia gave remarkable priority to this day.
The government made the day as national holiday.
This celebration came at a time that Somali women have 25 parliamentary members in the national assembly that becomes 12% of the parliament and one minister in the cabinet.
The Somali transitional federal Government TFG is not recognizing the role of women in the reconciliation process but the women are the leaders of the reconciliation and peace promotion.