STORY: SOMALI WOMEN APPEAL FOR MORE ENGAGEMENT IN NATION BUILDING TRT: 02:00 SOURCE: AU/UN IST RESTRICTIONS:

This media asset is free for editorial broadcast, print, online and radio use. It is not to be sold on and is restricted for other purposes. All enquiries to news@auunist.org CREDIT REQUIRED: AU/UN IST LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/SOMALI/NATS DATELINE: 27/4/2014 MOGADISHU, SOMALIA SHOTLIST: 1. Wide shot, Women sitting in Conference hall 2. Med shot, Lady addressing gathering 3. Med shot, Women listening in 4. Close up shot, Woman listening 5. Mid shot, Somali Minister of Gender and Human Rights Khadija Mohamed Diriye addressing the women 6. SOUNDBITE: (Somali) Khadija Mohamed Diriye, Somali Minister of Gender and Human Rights: There is wreckage in this country and its consequence today but we are not standing in that same place. We want now to know how we can pardon each other and not see one woman attacking another. Instead of that, we must pardon each other and cooperate, she said. 7. Med shot, Women listening in 8. Close up shot, Woman listening 9. Med shot, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander Maj. Gen. Geofrey Baraba Muhesi 10. SOUND BITE: (English) Maj. Gen. Geofrey Baraba Muhesi, AMISOM Deputy Force Commander: And this case of conflict, children are misguided and they go their own. It happened in Uganda, it happened in one rebellion. It happened so in one tribe, I saw it I fought them. But this is what they told me and this is what is happening here. Children are lacking guidance. I blame the men for that going of the children to misguided activities. But I blame women for not calling them back. You have the powers to call those children back, that is your insurance, that is your life after you have grown old, why dont you call these children back? he asks

10. Med shot, Women listening to Gen. Muhesi 11. Wide shot, Gen. Muhesi addressing the women.

STORY: The women in Somalia have appealed for more involvement in the countrys efforts at reconstruction and development. The call was made during the Somali Womens Conference, held in Mogadishu under the theme: The role of the women in the development of Somalia. The conference brought together different stakeholders to discuss the importance and possible ways of having the women engaged constructively in the re-building of Somalia, as it emerges from years of civil war. Speaking during the conference, the Somali Minister of Gender and Human Rights Khadija Mohamed Diriye called for reconciliation among all Somalis as a crucial step to recovery from the effects of war. There is wreckage in this country and its consequence today but we are n ot standing in that same place. We want now to know how we can pardon each other and not see one woman attacking another. Instead of that, we must pardon each other and cooperate, she said. The AMISOM Deputy Force Commander Maj. Gen. Geofrey Baraba Muhesi challenged parents to be more involved in the upbringing of their children to ensure that they are not misled and exploited by extremists. He noted that the lack of parental guidance leaves children vulnerable to exploitation and engagement in senseless acts of bloodshed. And this case of conflict, children are misguided and they go their own. It happened in Uganda, it happened in one rebellion. It happened so in one tribe, I saw it I fought them. But this is what they told me and this is what is happening here. Children are lacking guidance. I blame the men for that going of the children to misguided activities. But I blame women for not calling them back. You have the powers to call those children back, that is your insurance, that is your life after you have grown old, why dont you call these children back? he asks The conference was hosted by civil society organizations, working towards empowerment of the women in Somalia and ensuring their participation in issues of governance.

AMISOM continues to support efforts towards empowerment of women in Somalia through its gender mainstreaming strategy. End.