Aini Abukar Ga’al, Somalia
My name is Aini Abukar Gal and I am the Peace and Human Rights Officer at the Coalition for Grassroots Women’s Organisations (COGWO). I speak on behalf of Somali human rights defenders wherever they are, and in particular women human rights defenders.
During the UN Operation ‘Restore Hope’ between 1992-95, many hundreds of non-governmental organisations were established. Assisted by international and regional donors, COGWO was one of the first organisations involved in the humanitarian and human rights field. After the failure and the end of the program only a few committed NGOs remained operational, and formed networks and umbrellas in order to survive.
At first, it was very hard and challenging with all the patriarchal society we have in Somalia, but with a lot of patience and commitment we were able to bring about a significant change in attitude towards women human rights defenders. We played an active role in encouraging women’s groups and organisations in different parts of the country to come together and struggle for women’s rights and as a result another two women’s networks - NEGAD and WAWA - were formed. The close collaboration of these networks are central in building a new Somalia where the respect for human rights, particularly for women and minority rights, are given due consideration.
Somali women human rights defenders work under dangerous circumstances. They risk arbitrary detention, torture and killings, and illegal raids. Despite these difficulties, they have developed ways to continue their work and they have very little choice but to deal with the risk they face.
Women defenders continue to expose human rights violations through investigation and documentation, monitoring and media advocacy, and offering counseling services and limited financial support to survivors in order to facilitate their reintegration into the community.
The people recently targeted include prominent religious scholars, journalists, military veterans, intellectuals, women activists, and whoever dares to speak out about the need for foreign intervention for peacekeeping. The Declaration issued by human rights defenders at Hargeisa in February 2003 calls for an end to impunity. As a result, those who issued the declaration risked being targeted by elected and nominated government officials who may have been responsible for the massacre of innocent civilians in the past.
During this chaotic period, we witnessed the killing of Cabdulqaadir Yaxya, the head of the Centre for Research and Dialogue, who helped various international agencies make an assessment of the situation in Somalia. Unfortunately, he became a target after his name was quoted in several reports, and in July 2005 he was killed in front of his wife by his home. Similarly, Maryan Moxamed Xuseen, who worked for International Aids-Sweden was shot on her way to attend a training workshop in Mogadishu. For unknown reasons a female British journalist, Kate Payton, was also killed in a drive-by shooting at the Hotel Saxafi, a place where a number of the new members of the Somali Trans-federal government reside. Likewise, the Italian journalist of Rai 3, Ilaria Apli, was killed in Mogadishu because she was investigating nuclear waste dumping along the Somali coast and it was feared that her conclusions would have implicated many of those in power. Starling Abdi Arush, a much-loved activist who highlighted the military embargo of Somalia, was also killed by mercenaries near her home in Nairobi Kenya during the process of reconciliation in Eldoret.
Since I began working in defense of human rights during the late 80s I have faced arrest and interrogation. Since I helped radio Mogadishu prepare a programme on the death of Dr. Ismail Jumale - a lawyer and human rights activist who exposed to the international community the human rights violations perpetrated by the military ruling regime – I have had my movements restricted by officials from the national security service.
When I was working in the humanitarian division of the UN mission in Somalia, my vehicle was attacked after I refused to accept a bribe from warlords who wanted me to release funds for weapons. Four men were sent to kill me, but luckily one of them was a young man who I helped pay for tuberculosis medicines. When they attacked my vehicle I was nine months pregnant, I jumped out and ran desperately towards the sea, hiding myself there under the rocks. After a few hours I gave birth to a baby boy with broken shoulder - an ailment from which he still suffers. Some times I feel guilty that my child is suffering and unable to use his right arm properly because of my actions.
During the international women’s day celebrations, I received several threatening phone calls. A message was also sent to my relatives – an action which can result in domestic violence or divorce if relatives do not accept the value of human rights work.
Psychological effects including depression, burn out, nightmares, bad concentration, hyperglycemia and hypertension are often the result of contained anger, worry and fear at the hopelessness of the situation. The international community and the United Nations seem to be only an illusion. Nevertheless, the change I have witnessed has given me the spirit to continue as a human rights defender until I die, or until I see the Somali people enjoying their basic rights.