Abstract:
Armed conflict negatively affects people particularly women and children who is
regarded as the most vulnerable groups among societies. The civil war that erupted
Somalia in the early 1991, endangered everyone. Since the collapse of the central
government, the country experienced prolonged civil war and chaos, which has taken
almost two decades. Destruction of state structures accompanied by huge violation of
human rights subjected to women and girls. The civil war same as it affects people
negatively, it also brings unintentional and progressive changes to the societies
which is the case of Somali women who acquired new roles and responsibilities
during the decades of war. On the other hand, in post-conflict settings new
government structures established with constitution adopted. Social, political and
economic transformation occurs within the post-conflict spaces. Based on this
setting, this study is destined to examine the extent of human rights violations
specifically subjected to women and girls. It also traces the role of Somali women
played during the conflict particularly their role in peace building efforts of the
country. The study further evaluates if any progress being made in regard to women
political participation in post-conflict period with analysis on the issues preventing
women to fully participate in Somali politics. The thesis consists of five chapters.
The first chapter is partly an introduction that presents general image of the thesis
with methodology and the objectives of the study. The other part lays foundation for
the theoretical framework of the study and presents also literature review based on
the study variables. The second chapter emphasizes how the main international
human rights instruments protect and promote women rights. The third chapter
discusses the past of Somali women in which detailed image of women in the
traditional Somalia was given. The chapter also sheds light the status of women in
two periods; post colonial period and the revolutionary period. While the fourth
chapter analyzes, human rights violation against women during the conflict. Also the
opportunities that the war endowed to Somali women and the role they played in
making peace. It further discusses women political representation and the factors that
impede women’s involvement in the politics. The last chapter is the conclusion part
where the finding of the study is shortly presented and recommendations made based
on the results found.
