The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) is profoundly pleased to join all women in commemorating the International Women’s Day as a day primarily set aside to celebrate and offer credence to the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, while also highlighting the problems they face in day-to-day life as well as in their professional callings and workplace.
This year, International Women’s Day is being particularly marked to underscore the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic just as it rightfully came with the theme, “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world”.
“We are deeply pained by the devastation COVID-19 brought to our country, leaving women journalists among the worst casualties with many of them as victims of sexual abuses, discrimination, job lose, unequal pay and other vicious crimes” said Ms. Nima Hassan Abdi, NUSOJ Organising Secretary.
“We believe in this regime of new normal that the Federal Government, Federal Member States across the regions, civil society, labour movement and other stakeholders will chart a new course by putting an end to the exploitation, exclusion and marginalization of women in the media and this must be urgently backed with affirmative actions,” underscored Ms Abdi.
Somali women especially female journalists deserve the legitimate and constitutional rights to advance a full role in shaping the pivotal decisions being made right now for Somalia and Somalis as the country prepares to hold elections.
“This is the moment to uphold women’s achievements in journalism, recognize challenges they face, and focus greater attention on women’s rights and gender equality in the media industry” declared Abdi. “Thankfully NUSOJ is already taking an enviable lead in empowering women within our folk in a more decent and professional manner”.
“We genuinely wish our virtuous and quintessential women journalists happy International Women’s Day, and vow to continue with our programmes that address the inequalities and remnants of oppression that continue to afflict many of our sisters and women comrades for the benefit of the whole nation.”
For the upcoming elections, NUSOJ strongly believes that all hands must be on deck to break down the deep-seated historic, cultural, and socio-economic obstacles that prevent women from taking their seat at the decision-making table to make sure that resources and power are more equitably distributed devoid of prejudice, bias or favouritism.