STORY: SOMALIA JOINS THE WORLD IN

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY

DURATION: 2:27
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC
INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 8/MARCH/2016, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
SHOTLIST
1. Wide shot, Somali Women, federal government and parliament
of Somalia and AMISOM senior officials attending the International
Womens Day celebrations
2. Med shot, the European Union Ambassador to Somalia, Michele
Cervone dUrso, Somali Minister for Health, Hawo Hassan Mohamed,
SRCC Ambassador Francisco Madeira
3. Close up shot, George Conway, Acting United Nations Resident
Coordinator for Somalia attending the function
4. Close up shot, a guest taking notes
5. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MICHELE CERVONE DURSO,
EUROPEAN UNION AMBASSADOR TO SOMALIA.
We need to continue with advocacy and make available real space for
women in this process and this also touches on the core development
processes, particularly the New Deal. Women have to be involved in all
levels,
6. Med shot, Somali Minister for Women and Human Rights
Development, Zahra Ali Samatar speaking at the function
7. Close up shot, guest listening
8. Med shot, invited guests present at the function
9. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) ZAHRA ALI SAMATAR, SOMALI
MINISTER FOR WOMEN AND HUMAN RIGHTS.
This year Somalia has to be part of the developing nations where the role of
women is developing. Somalia must have a position there. Development is
bringing change and Somalia must be part of that change with regard to
womens issues,
10. Wide shot, high ranking officials present at the function
11. Med shot, SRCC Ambassador Francisco Madeira speaking at
the event
12. Close up shot, guest listening
13. Med shot, guests listening

14. Close up shot, guest listening

15. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) FRANCISCO CAETANO JOSE
MADEIRA, SRCC.
The African Union Mission in Somalia is highly committed to taking concrete
action in supporting the Federal Government of Somalia in protecting the
rights of women and children,
16. Wide shot, media covering the event
17. Med shot, the Deputy Speaker of the Federal Parliament of
Somalia, Mahad Abdalla Awad speaking at the event
18. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) MAHAD ABDALLA AWAD, THE
DEPUTY SPEAKER OF THE FEDERAL PARLIAMENT OF
SOMALIA.
Our constitution commands us to promote and strengthen the role of women
in every sphere whether it be in positions of appointment or elective positions.
When you take a closer look you will see the level of participation of women,
19. Wide shot, guests present at the function
STORY
SOMALIA JOINS THE WORLD IN CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL
WOMENS DAY
Mogadishu, 8 March, 2016 - Somali women have called for greater political
participation and power sharing, as the country marks International Womens
Day.
The women issued a communique at the end of International Womens Day in
Mogadishu, urging for better representation of women in politics.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Somalia Michele Cervone dUrso; the
Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission
to Somalia (SRCC), Francisco Madeira; Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon.
Mahad Abdalla Awad; First Lady Sahra Omar Hassan and the Minister of
Women and Human Rights Zahra Samantar attended the celebrations, held in
Mogadishu.
Under the theme Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality, the
day is aimed at encouraging governments to step up efforts in empowering
women and eradicating cultural practices, laws and regulations that hinder the
realization of their full potential in society.
The government should come up with a fair formula that spells out womens
equitable representation of the 2016 electoral selections in line with the
general principle of the provisional constitution of Somalia and article 22 of the
Istanbul Communique of February 2016, the women said in the communiqu
read by Deqa Yasin, the Operations Manager of IIDA Womens Development
Organization.
In his speech, Ambassador dUrso observed that positive steps had been
made in Somalia with regard to rights of women but acknowledged that more

should to be done in areas of partnerships, gender mainstreaming and

advocacy.
We need to continue with advocacy and make available real space for
women in this process and this also touches on the core development
processes, particularly the New Deal. Women have to be involved in all
levels, emphasized the Ambassador.
The Minister of Women and Human Rights, Zahra Samantar, called for
empowerment of Somali women through education and economic
opportunities. The Minister observed that gains had so far been made in the
country on issues of womens rights, adding that there was need for Somali
women to identify with global developments.
This year, Somalia has to be part of the developing nations where the role of
women is at the core of the development agenda. Development is bringing
change and Somalia must be part of that change with regard to womens
issues, Zahra Samantar, the Minister said.
The African Union Representative for Somalia Francisco Madeira saluted
Somali women for their role in state-building, noting that gains had been made
with the support of AMISOM on women rights. He stressed the Missions
commitment to ensure gender equity.
The African Union Mission in Somalia is highly committed to taking concrete
action in supporting the Federal Government of Somalia, in protecting the
rights of women and children, said Ambassador Madeira.
The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mahad Abdalla Awad, assured women of
the governments commitment in ensuring equality, saying there are
constitutional provisions in Somalia, that seek to empower women and ensure
gender equity.
Our constitution commands us to promote and strengthen the role of women
in every sphere whether in positions of appointment or elective positions, the
Deputy Speaker noted.
This years celebration was organized by the European Union (EU) inconjunction with the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and with the
support of AMISOM and the United Nations.
ENDS