Somali Peacemaker Honored at Peace Conference
Somali Peacemaker honored at Conference at Weber State
Odgen, Utah The Worldwide Organization for Women in partnership with Weber State University recently concluded ‘Women and their Worldwide Influence for Peace’, a conference which highlighted women around the world working for peaceful resolutions to conflict. Conference events began in Utah on October 7th and will end in Washington D.C October 17th.
Asha Hagi Elmi Amin, the keynote speaker at the conference was awarded the Worldwide Organization for Women’s Women and their Influence for Good award at an Award’s Luncheon held in the Weber State University Ballroom on October 10th. She spoke during the luncheon about the need for WOW’s three pillars; education, advocacy and humanitarian work in order for the world to find peace for families. The conference was sponsored by WOW and Weber State University, the Department of Geography, the Women’s Study Program and the Diversity Office.
Asha Hagi Elmi Amin founded Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC) a woman run non-governmental humanitarian organization in Mogadishu in 1992. SSWC works to create a safe and sustainable situation for women by helping them overcome marginalization, violence and poverty in their communities. It is a non-profit organization that functions under the belief that through their own efforts as well as with help from local and international allies, women can transform their own lives and their communities. Amin has been involved for many years in peace negotiations and has met in recent months with US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton. Amin was recently honored in New York City at the 2009 Clinton Global Initiative on Thursday September 24, 2009. She was awarded one of six 2009 Clinton Global Citizen Awards which recognizes remarkable individuals for their leadership in improving the lives of people around the globe.
Other speakers during the daylong Conference included:
Valerie Hudson, the author of Bare Branches and a Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University. Hudson presented findings from her research called WomanStats. She has spent seven years studying the connection between the treatment of women and the peacefulness of nations. Her insight and vast experience gives a better understanding of the need to speak out for those who are marginalized in society.
Afton Beutler, Vice President for International Affairs for the Worldwide Organization for Women in Geneva. Beutler is involved in: humanitarian projects, advocacy for women, children and families, issues of health, peace, human rights and climate change, the Eleanor Roosevelt Project on behalf of WOW and the Geneva internship program. New York UN Representative, Suvi Hynynen along with some of the Geneva interns shared their experiences about being part of the advocacy and educational process at the UN as a positive influence for change.
Carol Ugochukwu, the current Executive Director of WOW-Africa. Ugochukwu strongly advocates for community and self development projects. Ugochukwu was elected the State President and National Vice-President for the National Council of Women’s Societies of Nigeria. Ugochukwu was instrumental in building a bridge in her village of Ozubulu.
Ramita Shrestha, the Manager for ‘JOY Foundation-Nepal.’ Shrestha takes a proactive stance in improving the lives of women and children in her home country of Nepal. Through the ‘JOY Foundation-Nepal’ she organizes eye and health camps for rural Nepalese. She began her work with the Nepalese community by actively engaging the youth in after school computer literacy programs. She has worked with women from her village of Sankhu on the outskirts of Kathmandu to empower them through education and self reliance workshops.
Jackie Hunlow, founder of the Mothers’ Legacy Project. Hunlow is on the National Board of American Mothers Inc. and created the Mothers’ Legacy Project, as a living collection of written, oral and visual stories honoring mothers. As an author and artist, Hunlow spoke about the importance of women telling their stories and addressed how to build strength in our children and peace at that foundational point.
Charlotte Hamblin, philanthropist. Charlotte and her husband saw a need in the city of Mozambique and decided to do something about it. Over the last three years they have helped countless girls to get an education through their humanitarian projects. Hamblin discussed her work in Mozambique, including how getting sewing machines into the hands of women and paying for the production of school uniforms has opened doors for girls to go to school.
Other activities associated with the WOW conference included: a literacy event Thursday October 8th in conjunction with Global Literacy Day where Susan Dayton, President of WOW and Carol Ugochukwu, Current Executive Director of WOW Africa were at Glendale Middle School in Salt Lake City. to share inspirational stories about the education of women. Bags of books were provided by First Book, Utah Children’s Reading Foundation Reading Tree and Harmons. This event was partnered by the Salt Lake Community Action Program, the Children’s Reading Foundation and the Salt Lake City Mayor’s Office of Education Partnership. On Friday, October 9th, WOW members participated in the Diversity Conference at Weber State University.
The Conference will continue to Washington D.C. Monday October 12th through Saturday October 17th, where Amin will do a series of meetings, presentations and fundraising events at Georgetown University and George Washington University. One of the key lectures and discussions will take place from 5:45 to 8:50 p.m. October 14th at the Georgetown University Law Center where she will be hosted by the International Law Faculty.
Somali Ambassador for Peace Honored at Conference
Somali Ambassador for Peace, Asha Hagi Elmi visited Utah by invitation of Worldwide Organization for Women
The Conference was co-sponsored by Weber State University, Geography Department, Womens’ Studies, & Diversity Office and addressed the topic “WOMEN AND THEIR WORLDWIDE INFLUENCE FOR PEACE”
Asha was the Guest Speaker at the Conference Awards Luncheon, Saturday October 10th where she received the “Women and their Influence for Peace” Advocacy Award. Asha also spoke at BYU; UVU; and at the Salt Lake City Library, which was sponsored by the U of U and the Mayor’s Office of Diversity and Human Rights
Asha Hagi Elmi has been battling hardship and war since she was very young. A citizen of Somalia, she has raised her young family in the midst of war. Unlike many, she has spoken out and continues under the hardest of situations, to organize and advocate for women and children from her war torn country. Currently sitting at the peace table and advising the US Secretary of State, Asha shared her insights on peace and the need for WOW’s three pillars of advocacy, educational opportunity and humanitarian work if the world is to find peace for its’ families.
Asha Hagi has dedicated her life to gaining a better and more peaceful future for her war-torn country, Somalia. At great personal risk, she has fought for women to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. She has mobilized women in the cause of peace across clan and political divides and continues to play a vital role in mediating across warring clans in the on-going peace process. Women in Somalia are in a much stronger position today because of her courage, persistence and compassion.
Born in 1962, Asha Hagi graduated in economics from Somalia National University and holds a Master’s degree in business administration from the US International University in Africa. Asha Hagi co-founded in 1992, and is the current Chair of, Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), which works for a safe and sustainable Somalia by supporting women to overcome marginalization, violence and poverty in their communities. SSWC has seven paid staff and nine volunteers. A large part of the humanitarian funding comes directly from the Somali community around the world as well as from international organizations and individual donors.
Representing the women of Somalia during the Arta peace talks in 2000, Hagi founded, together with other women, the Sixth Clan, the clan of women, to complement the traditional five Somali Clans which are all male-dominated. This became the first time women were represented in a peace process in Somalia. She played a similar role in the Mbagathi Conference in Nairobi (2002-2004), which gave birth to the Transitional Federal Government and the Transitional Federal Parliament, of which Hagi became a member. In both cases the participation of women in these conferences played a crucial role in their success; not only did the women represent a broader interest of the Somali citizens, compared to the often very narrow political positions of the men. They were also able to do ‘shuttle diplomacy’ between the antagonistic factions of the traditional five clans. Among the women’s achievements through the idea of the Sixth Clan are: taking women to the high negotiation table with their own identity (Sixth Clan) and as equal partners in decision making, a 12% quota for women representation in the Transitional Federal Parliament, introduction of fair gender formatting (he /she) in the charter language the creation of a Ministry for Gender and Family Affairs, and a decree by the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia ensuring a 30% quota for women in the district and regional councils, in national commissions, local committees and conferences.
The recent development in Somalia and Hagi’s role in the peace process: Late in 2006, events in Somalia took a dramatic turn for the worse. There were two factions in the Transitional Federal Government, which had contrary views relating to peace dialogue or military action involving the Ethiopians. In November 2006, while a group, including Hagi, favoring the former was negotiating with the Islamic Courts Union, which effectively ruled Mogadishu and much of Somalia, the latter was inviting in the Ethiopian army. The Ethiopians took Mogadishu at the end of December, with the deaths of around 1,000 people and widespread destruction of the city. By April 2007, more than 350,000 people had fled the city. The current situation effectively prevents Hagi, who has spoken out against this development on the global media, from returning to Mogadishu, so that she is now based in Nairobi. However, her organization SSWC is seeking to give relief in Mogadishu to those who remained, distributing food and hygiene kits to women and children.
Since May 2008, Asha Hagi’s focus is on the UN sponsored peace dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance Re-liberation of Somalia in Djibouti, where she is a member of the High Level Political Committee in the Djibouti Peace and Reconciliation Talks. In the peace talks, Hagi represents a balanced position between the different political interests. However, she does not give way on her most important principle: the need for reconciliation and an inclusive, non-violent political process. Her role requires a lot of courage and is putting her in considerable danger, even outside Somalia. Further activities: Asha Hagi is a core group member of the Leaders Project, established in 2002, that has brought together more than 300 women leaders from around the world. She is also a member of the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg. She is a member of the 21 Peace Commissioners from Africa of the Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA), and a Board Member of the Africa Peace Forum (APF) and the International Resource Group on Security and Small Arms in the Horn of Africa Region.
Asha Hagi has received a number of awards for her human rights and peace-building work. In 2001, she was made an ‘Ambassador for Peace’ by the Interreligious and International Federation For World Peace. In 2005, she received the Blue Ribbon Peace Award from the Women Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and the first award of ‘Women of Substance’ by the African Women Development Fund. In 2006, she received the ‘Tombouctou / Women Peacemaking Award’ from Femmes Africa Solidarity.
OTHER SPEAKERS AT WOW CONFERENCE
Valerie Hudson is on faculty at BYU. Author of the book, Bare Branches, her work on women and their treatment by governments has made headline news. She has linked world peace with the treatment of women by governments. She discussed findings from her research and answered questions about her work. Knowledge is power; her insights gave a better understanding of why we need to speak out for those who continue to be oppressed.
Afton Beutler represents the Worldwide organization for Women in Geneva as the Vice President for International Affairs. Besides overseeing humanitarian efforts, she has developed and managed the WOW intern program, training over 26 young adults in the workings of the United Nations and setting up projects and panels in a variety of venues at the Human Rights Council and HO side events. Currently the Co Convener for the NGO CSW committee on Women’s Right to Health, she discussed ways that our voices can truly be a positive influence for change and shared important work being done by the WOW interns in Geneva and how you might help.
Ramita Shrestha. Since 2004, Ramita has managed a small technology center for rural villagers to gain access to critical content for development. Despite civil war in Nepal during 2005 and 2006, Ramita was able to keep her center functioning without any external funding. Today, her center attracts up to 50 remote villagers (who often make the 3-hour trek one way). As an active community mobilizer, Ramita dedicates her life to support women’s groups, small entrepreneurs, and farmer cooperatives by providing access to localized content suited for Himalayan livelihoods and in various Nepalese languages. Her topic for the conference was ”Empowerment of Nepalese Rural women for their Rights”.
Carol Ugochukwu “Carol Ugochukwu is currently the Executive Director WOW-Africa encouraging community and self-development projects. Prior to her retirement, Carol held several positions in the Civil Service including, Sole Administrator of a local Government and Permanent Secretary/Director-General. She was elected the State President and National Vice President of the National Council of Women’ Societies of Nigeria. An organization that was actively involved in community organizations and programs for educating and breaking cultural barriers militating against the advancement of women and children. Born in Nigeria, Carol received her education in Nigeria and London, England. Her education and work made her a recognizable role model for the younger generation in her community. Carol is well-traveled and has represented her country in many national, international and UN Conferences. She is a recipient of many awards including a Chieftaincy title from her community, the Rotary Community Service award , WOW-Humanitarian Service Award, and the Precious Mother Award. She spoke to the necessity of education for women and how we must work together for this goal.
Jacki Hunlow Lives in Portland Oregon. Among other honors, she has served on the National Board of the American Mothers Inc. and President of Oregon American Mothers Association, her dedication to the role that mothers play in society inspired her to start the Mothers Legacy Project, a living collection of written, oral and visual stories honoring mothers. An author and artist Jacki shared the importance of women telling their stories, and how everyone can be a part of this great collection of stories and build strength in children and peace in the world.
Charlotte Hamblin is a native of Utah but has changed lives a world away. She and her husband saw a need in Mozambique and decided to do something about it. Over the last three years they have helped countless girls to get an education through their humanitarian projects. She illustrated how getting sewing machines into the hands of women and paying for the production of school uniforms has opened doors for girls. Those in attendence were inspired by her work and learned how one woman can make a difference.
Asha Hagi Elmi honored at WOW Conference
Somali Ambassador for Peace, Asha Hagi Elmi honored by the Worldwide Organization for Women.
Asha Hagi Elmi was recently honored at an Awards Luncheon in conjunction with a conference co-sponsored by the Worldwide Organization for Women and Weber State University. She received the “Women and Their Influence for Peace” Advocacy Award.
Asha has been battling hardship and war since she was very young. A citizen of Somalia, She has had to raise her young family in the midst of war. Unlike many, she has spoken out and continues under the hardest of situations, to organize and advocate for women and children from her war torn country. Currently sitting at the peace table and advising the US Secretary of State, Asha will shared her insight on peace and the need for WOW’s three pillars of humanitarian work, educational opportunity and advocacy if the world is to find peace for its families.
Asha Hagi has dedicated her life to gaining a better and more peaceful future for her war-torn country, Somalia. At great personal risk, she has fought for women to have a voice in the decisions that affect them. She has mobilized women in the cause of peace across clan and political divides and continues to play a vital role in mediating across warring clans in the on-going peace process. Women in Somalia are in a much stronger position today because of her courage, persistence and compassion. Born in 1962, Asha Hagi graduated in economics from Somalia National University and holds a Master’s degree in business administration from the US International University in Africa.
In 1992, hagi founded and is the current Chair of, Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC), which works for a safe and sustainable Somalia by supporting women to overcome marginalization, violence and poverty in their communities. SSWC has seven paid staff and nine volunteers. A large part of the humanitarian funding comes directly from the Somali community around the world as well as from international organizations and individual donors. Representing the women of Somalia during the Arta peace talks in 2000, Hagi founded, together with other women, the Sixth Clan, the clan of women, to complement the traditional five Somali Clans which are all male-dominated. This became the first time women were represented in a peace process in Somalia. She played a similar role in the Mbagathi Conference in Nairobi (2002-2004), which gave birth to the Transitional Federal Government and the Transitional Federal Parliament, of which Hagi became a member. In both cases the participation of women in these conferences played a crucial role in their success: not only did the women represent a broader interest of the Somali citizens, compared to the often very narrow political positions of the men. They were also able to do ‘shuttle diplomacy’ between the antagonistic factions of the traditional five clans. Among the women’s achievements through the idea of the Sixth Clan are: taking women to the high negotiation table with their own identity (Sixth Clan) and as equal partners in decision making, a 12% quota for women representation in the Transitional Federal Parliament, introduction of fair gender formatting (he /she) in the charter language the creation of a Ministry for Gender and Family Affairs, and a decree by the Prime Minister of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia ensuring a 30% quota for women in the district and regional councils, in national commissions, local committees and conferences.
Late in 2006, events in Somalia took a dramatic turn for the worse. There were two factions in the Transitional Federal Government, which had contrary views relating to peace dialogue or military action involving the Ethiopians. In November 2006, while a group, including Hagi, favoring the former was negotiating with the Islamic Courts Union, which effectively ruled Mogadishu and much of Somalia, the latter was inviting in the Ethiopian army. The Ethiopians took Mogadishu at the end of December, with the deaths of around 1,000 people and widespread destruction of the city. By April 2007, more than 350,000 people had fled the city. The current situation effectively prevents Hagi, who has spoken out against this development on the global media, from returning to Mogadishu, so that she is now based in Nairobi. However, her organization SSWC is seeking to give relief in Mogadishu to those who remained, distributing food and hygiene kits to women and children. Since May 2008, Asha Hagi’s focus is on the UN sponsored peace dialogue between the Transitional Federal Government and the Alliance Re-liberation of Somalia in Djibouti, where she is a member of the High Level Political Committee in the Djibouti Peace and Reconciliation Talks. In the peace talks, Hagi represents a balanced position between the different political interests. However, she does not give way on her most important principle: the need for reconciliation and an inclusive, non-violent political process. Her role requires a lot of courage and is putting her in considerable danger, even outside Somalia.
Asha Hagi is a core group member of the Leaders Project, established in 2002, that has brought together more than 300 women leaders from around the world. She is also a member of the Pan-African Parliament in Johannesburg. She is a member of the 21 Peace Commissioners from Africa of the Inter-Faith Action for Peace in Africa (IFAPA), and a Board Member of the Africa Peace Forum (APF) and the International Resource Group on Security and Small Arms in the Horn of Africa Region. Asha Hagi has received a number of awards for her human rights and peace-building work. In 2001, she was made an ‘Ambassador for Peace’ by the Interreligious and International Federation For World Peace. In 2005, she received the Blue Ribbon Peace Award from the Women Leadership Board of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and the first award of ‘Women of Substance’ by the African Women Development Fund. In 2006, she received the ‘Tombouctou / Women Peacemaking Award’ from Femmes Africa Solidarity.
A Bridge Over Troubled Waters: WOW Humanitarian Project
Find Your Voice and Share It
“Spiritual and religious practices differ widely around the world. But at heart we are dealing in universal values: to be merciful, to be tolerant, to love thy neighbour. No tradition can claim a monopoly on such teachings; they are deeply ingrained in the human spirit. They also animate the Charter of the United Nations, and are enshrined in international human rights law, and lie at the root of our search for world harmony and peace. If we are to overcome the many challenges facing us today…we must recognize that our own individual well-being is linked to the well-being of the broader human community. Whatever our origin, race, culture or belief, each of us shares the hope of a more peaceful, equitable and sustainable future. And we share the same home, an ever smaller planet on which we are bound to live together. So let us work together towards the common good and the peaceful coexistence of all the world’s people.” Kofi A. Annan, UN Secretary-General NGO Forum June 29, 2006
This heartfelt plea strikes a chord with members of the Worldwide Organization for Women who are seeking to address the crushing needs of the world’s oppressed by advocating for policies that strengthen women, marriage, and families. Policy makers and public officials in many parts of the world are beginning to recognize the social, cultural and economic importance of good marriages and healthy families. A woman’s influence upon her family and community can have more lasting and significant impact upon society than government programs or agencies, no matter how well intentioned or well funded they are.
WOW works in a variety of ways to improve quality of life for individuals as well as nations. WOW representatives in NY and Geneva are active at the UN, speaking up, drawing attention to women’s issues and organizing for change. Members and interns from several universities sponsor panels and roundtables, and sign written/oral statements in collaboration with other NGO’s at UN events in NY, Paris, Brussels and Geneva on a variety of issues such as: Education of girls in Afghanistan; Female Feticide and Infanticide; Value of Women’s Unwaged Work in Society; Peace Panels; Honor Killings; Forced Marriages; Early Marriage; Migration and Health; Bioethics and Gender Networking.
So much happens behind the scenes of political and governmental policy making. WOW representatives are not only able to share their voices but they also provide members with information that can help them become agents for change. Some examples of the work WOW is doing:
- Research and advocacy at the Human Rights Council and Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) and CoNGO in areas such as health, education, peace, economics and family issues
- WOW members attended the Doha Conference and were in attendance in NY when the Doha Declaration was taken to the UN General Assembly and resulted in the Doha Document for the International Year of the Family.
- WOW sponsored a conference entitled: “A peaceful world comes from peaceful people”. A presentation on the “Underground Railroad” honored Americans who had courage and strong convictions to oppose slavery.
- In Geneva, WOW assisted a program which allowed students to attend the UNESCO Slavery exhibition at the UN. “Heroic women are continually fighting to free enslaved people of today from the bonds of poverty, illiteracy and disease. Their work is helping individuals and families secure the rights and freedoms that all should be able to enjoy regardless of where they live, their culture or religion.”
- WOW presented “Women and their Influence for Good” Conferences in 2005 and 2007 honoring women from around the world for their achievements
- Supported the American Mothers Legacy Project.
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of those who have no voice? Join WOW and be a part of our efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals, as well as nations.
