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AMISOM Holds Advocacy Day on Ceebla Crisis Line

Storyline:National News

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) held an advocacy day in the Somali capital Mogadishu, to sensitize the public about mechanisms of prevention of sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) and also to popularize a crisis hotline, established for victims to report, seek assistance and the necessary referrals to appropriate front line services. Through this mechanism, victims can report violence and abuse in real time without fear of stigma or reprisal.

Launched in October, CEEBLA crisis line is a community owned initiative established by the Somali Women Development Centre (SWDC), a Non-Governmental Organization championing women’s rights in Somalia, with the support of the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM).

Top government officials, senior AMISOM staff, members of civil societies, police and military taking part in the mission and sections of internally displaced persons (IDPs) attended the function meant to popularize the toll free line 5555, popularly known as CEEBLA.

CEEBLA crisis line is a mechanism that supports victims who have experienced violence and abuse or those who might be at risk of becoming victims, to seek assistance and support for relevant information and referrals to appropriate front-line services, on a 24 hours/seven days a week basis. CEEBLA crisis line as a milestone for the prevention and response to sexual violence, presents great potential for the elimination of violence against women.

It further contributes to breaking victim’s silence in an anonymous and confidential manner, allowing victims to speak out, to report and seek assistance without fear of prejudice or stigma. CEEBLA crisis line, the first service of its kind in Somalia has the great potential of empowering women and contributing to more peace and stability for a society free of women’s violence and abuse.

CEEBLA crisis line is creating a momentum for awareness raising and in preventing all forms of violence against women. Present at the function was the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (D/SRCC) for Somalia, Lydia Mutende Wanyoto; the First Lady Zahra Omar Hassan; the State Minister for Information Mohamud Abdi Hassan and the AMISOM Deputy Commissioner of Police, Christine Alalo.

Speaking at the function, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (D/SRCC) for Somalia, Lydia Wanyoto condemned SGBV, urging women to be each other’s keeper and take advantage of the toll free line to break the silence on the vice, hardly reported in Somali for fear of stigmatization.

“This line is meant to reach out to the victims not only  to be able to secure but also help them restore their dignity and their rights and we are going to sensitize government institutions like the police, the justice systems to be able to attend to the women and vulnerable groups when they have been abused,” Lydia Wanyoto, the Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (D/SRCC) for Somalia said at the function where paraphernalia with anti SGBV messages were distributed.

The First Lady, Madam Zahra Omar Hassan hailed the initiative, saying Somali women face a host of problems and such fora presents an opportunity for women to discuss problems that they share in common.

“This programme is special because women can trust and be open with one another. Women have the ability to know their problems better and as always women talk openly  about their problems amongst themselves instead of keeping quiet. It is much better to come together in such ceremonies and talk about not only abuses but every problem that women experience. Abuses that women experience are not limited to CEEBLA. We need to come together and address issues amongst ourselves,” The First Lady, Zahra Omar Hassan said.

Zahra Mohamed Ahmad, the legal officer at SWDC said they came up with the crisis line due to its attendant benefits of privacy, owing to the sensitivity associated with reporting the vice.

“Women can call us for help. Our staff are well trained. We have the legal aid and paralegal lawyers and case workers. For those who are sexually abused we give them medical aid and counsel them. After counselling, if they want to go to court we provide the necessary help. Some court cases initiated by the crisis line were successful because women calling us are ready to open up and speak without fear.” Zahra Mohamed Ahmad, the legal officer at SWDC said urged victims to take advantage of the line.

Kaoutar Kaddouri, the women and child protection officer at AMISOM said the creation of the crisis line is crucial in its ability to assist victims in breaking the barrier of silence, and thus the need to sensitize the public about its existence. “The purpose of advocacy day on CEEBLA crisis line is to reach out to the wider population in order to promote the existence of this line. We had the chance to have the presence of the First Lady Madam Zahra to come and support us in order to deliver the same message to civil society, the same message to the Federal Government of Somalia; the same message to international sector actors to support CEEBLA crisis line mechanism, understanding at the same time; believing in its importance in assisting victims to give them a platform to speak without fear,” Kaoutar Kaddouri, the women and child protection officer at AMISOM said.

Isaq Hassan Abdulle, an internally displaced person praised CEEBLA, saying it had brought a wonderful opportunity to curb SGBV, especially in the camps where the vice is rife. “I live in a place where screams are synonymous with everyday life, a place where refugees are many, where all kinds of abuses take place. In the past, when the women in the camp were abused it used to take about a week, two or three weeks for the public to know. At times they would not know but when the CEEBLA hotline crisis project was introduced, the community is happy because CEEBLA crisis hotline allows you to convey your message to the center very fast while the wrongdoer is at the scene,” Isaq Hassan Abdulle, an internally displaced person said.