I am Ugbad Ahmed Hashi, from Somaliland over the past three years, I have participated in several capacity-strengthening workshops and advocacy events organized by the Orchid Project under the ALM program as my previous role of program manager of Network Against FGM/C in Somaliland. These experiences have been instrumental in enhancing my knowledge, skills, and commitment to women’s rights advocacy, particularly focusing on ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). Through these opportunities, a broader perspective on global, regional, and national strategies to address gender-based violence. Each event enhanced my understanding of effective approaches, expanded my network of like-minded advocates, and reinforced my dedication to achieving gender equity and protecting women’s rights.
The first significant workshop I attended was a regional event held in Nairobi, Kenya, in 2022. This gathering marked a milestone in my advocacy journey, bringing together key stakeholders from West and East Africa. It provided a unique platform for cross-regional learning and collaboration. We shared experiences, assessed the successes and challenges of ongoing initiatives, and discussed best practices. I presented Somaliland’s anti-FGM/C efforts at the national and community levels, highlighting our coordination and networking platforms, achievements, and challenges.
In 2023, I attended the Women’s Deliver Conference in Kigali, Rwanda. Known as one of the largest global gatherings of women’s rights advocates, the conference provided an invaluable opportunity to connect with passionate and dedicated activists. This exposure offered me fresh perspectives on various program models and methodologies to adapt to our work in Somaliland.
This conference is a platform for exchanging knowledge, innovative approaches, and best practices to advance gender equality and improve women’s rights worldwide. Additionally, I was inspired by Rwanda’s achievements in gender representation in government and parliament, where women occupy significant leadership roles. Rwanda’s example offers a model for other African countries striving for greater gender equality, motivating me to see how we could replicate these successes in Somaliland.
During the Women Deliver Conference, I was honoured to be one of the representatives involved in launching the Africa Anti-FGM/C Network. This network was created to unify the efforts of organizations and activists across the continent working to end FGM/C. It is a platform for cross-continental advocacy, resource-sharing, and strategic alignment. Being part of this launch was one of the proudest moments of my career.
In March 2023, with the support of Orchid Project under the TGG: ALM Programme, I participated in the 68th Session of Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) which is an annual women’s rights convening hosted by UNWomen at the UN Headquarters in New York. This event, themed “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions with a gender perspective,” is the largest UN event dedicated to gender equality. I was honoured to be a panellist at a side event on the girl-centered approach to ending Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C). This opportunity allowed me to share Somaliland’s girl-centered initiatives, including milestones achieved through girls’ participation in ending FGM/C. I also discussed challenges, such as the lack of a legal framework to protect girls from FGM/C. This experience reaffirmed my commitment to women’s rights and strengthened to advocate for gender-sensitive policies, particularly the anti-FGM/C national policy and the enactment of a law banning the practice.
These experiences have enriched my understanding of women’s rights advocacy and strengthened my skills, which I have applied at national and regional levels. Through my work with NAFIS, I have organized capacity-building training sessions to unify anti-FGM/C stakeholders under a zero-tolerance stance. I have also established national and regional coordination meetings where stakeholders discuss regional achievements and challenges in ending FGM/C. I also founded the Somaliland Women Empowerment Platform (SWEP), to promote women’s rights, access to resources, equal participation in decision-making, and ending violence against women and girls.
My journey would not have been possible without the support of the Orchid Project, and the TGG ALM Programme that accorded me access to travel grants that have enabled me to be part of regional and global platforms/convenings. Their support has profoundly impacted my work in Somaliland, providing insights into advocacy techniques and policy frameworks from countries that have successfully outlawed FGM/C. I was also a beneficiary of an exposure visit to Kenya, facilitated by ActionAid Somaliland under the TGG ALM Programme, which was valuable. This visit brought together stakeholders from line ministries, parliament, and key organizations, allowing us to learn from Kenya’s journey in outlawing the practice. Meeting these organizations and seeing their advocacy models firsthand provided valuable lessons for Somaliland’s legislative journey.
I strongly believe that youth engagement is crucial in ending FGM/C. Empowering young people through advocacy skills and providing opportunities to participate in discussions and debates around FGM/C will foster a generational shift in perspective, challenging long-standing social norms and ultimately ending this harmful practice.
In conclusion, strengthening youth capacities in advocacy and lobbying, and enabling their participation in regional and global platforms is critical. Empowering young advocates will allow them to organize discussions and public debates, amplifying efforts to end FGM/C. University youth could write their theses on FGM/C, contributing knowledge to the field.
Additionally, since youth are future parents, they will eliminate harmful traditional practices and foster a society that values and protects women’s rights.
