Women and Peace Building in Mogadishu Somalia

ABSTRACT The purpose of the study was to examine the role of women in peace building in Mogadishu Somalia. The study objectives were to; examine the level of women role in peace building in Mogadishu Somalia. To establish the peace building efforts in Mogadishu Somalia, identify the relationship between the role of women and peace building in Mogadishu Somalia and establish challenges hindering women in peace building efforts in Mogadishu Somalia. The study used cross sectional and survey research design based on both quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample population was 300 respondents though the study attained a response rate of 186 respondents. The study conclude that state of women role in peace building is moderately high, though with lows in representation and areas of negotiations and moderations that are only seen in local conflicts. The results further indicate that the peace building efforts in Mogadishu Somalia are still fairly good though the efforts have not yet yielded enough in terms of peace. The third objective concludes that women role support the peace building efforts in Mogadishu Somalia, the role was a significant one. The study on the fourth objective concludes that the state and nature of the challenges are cultural, financial and limited representation of women on grass roots, hence the need to effectively address the challenges established. The study recommends that the African Union should revise its peace support design to incorporate men and women equally in operations to promote inclusive security apparatus in Somalia. Both men and women can with help of the AU mandate be equally represented in security agencies such as the Police and Army. The Federal Government of Somalia has an obligation to emancipate women that have for long been sidelined yet the local culture and religion do not condone gender discrimination. Government should strengthen institutions and enforce interventions for gender equality in all aspects of peace building as reflected the Provisional National Constitution. On the second objective, there is need for the provision of human rights, social rehabilitation, negotiations in the conflicts and other avenues of peace need to be developed, the work efforts be undertaken to improve functionality of the peace process. There is further need for developing interests in peace building and development in the country. On the third objective, peace building need to enhance by the local cultural institutions such as clan leadership be organized, sensitized and supported for effective and useful gender mainstreaming. This intervention can be formalized through appropriate government agencies related to culture and gender for example line Ministries. The forth objective reveal the need for incorporating their agency in the development of the agreements for supporting the work place peace building and the implementation of the changes. By implementing of policy demanding the women to participate in the in the process of peace or having the women role of how active engagement for the peace process and peace building for women agencies for the solving the conflicts.