Report: VAWG & Gender norms in Fafan and Jarar Zones, Somali Region, Ethiopia

In brief

This report examines the violence against women and girls (VAWG) in Ethiopia’s Somali region. ISF, together with the selected partner organizations, conducted the analysis to explore in-depth the various forms, prevalence, and dynamics of violence experienced by women and girls, as well as gender norms more broadly. This was part of the inception phase and planning process before finalizing the project activity plans.

In Ethiopia, the regional differences in gender-based violence prevalence are vast and for example female genital mutilation (FGM) is practically non-existent in some regions and highly prevalent in others. The latter is true to the Somali region even though FGM is criminalized in the state penal code.  

In addition, other forms of violence, such as intimate partner violence, sexual harassment, and assault, are common but often go unrecognized or are not perceived as violence in the region. Also, a high prevalence of early marriage persists. The lack of research and long-term, development-oriented interventions on VAWG-related issues, combined with ongoing environmental crises, has shifted most efforts towards humanitarian aid, making it difficult to implement preventive measures. 

Main findings

• Socialisation of gender norms and constituting attributes
  • Rigid gender and social norms hinder progress across social and economic realms. In the pastoralist and semi-pastoralist communities studied, the role of men and women do not often overlap and for example men’s support for women’s autonomy bears social stigma of losing status and being labeled as feminine. On the other side women’s sole burden over household chores and care duties limits their possibilities in income generating activities outside of home. 
  • Elderly and especially mothers-in-law have a big part in keeping society’s expectations and traditional gender roles in place inside households. Moreover, the younger generation is deemed more flexible for change. 
  • Not only gender norms but also a lack of income opportunities, schooling, and climate and security issues contribute to the problem. For example, food insecurity often leads to increased child and early marriages, as families may push their daughters to marry in order to be supported by another household and to receive a bride price. 
• FGM and early marriage
  • Pharaonic type cutting is practiced in the rural areas where ISF’s partner organizations work. Pharaonic cutting is the most severe type (type III) of cutting. Additionally, other local customs such as halal/dhiijin cuts and use of local herbs in sewing exist. 
  • Study also found that some families traveled to Somaliland to practice FGM where it remains legal – in contrast to Ethiopia. 
  • Medicalization of the FGM is also on the rise. (In the validation workshop of the study, it came about that the latest fatwa promotes medicalized Sunna within the community.) 
• Intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence
  • Due to very limited services available to the survivors as well as the culture of impunity, IPV  and rape cases are hardly ever reported or identified. Building an understanding of different forms of violence will require substantial effort and education and increased cooperation between the non-profit sector and local service provides and administration. 
  • Regional conflicts, political and environmental instability, and the large number of internally displaced people are key drivers and contributors to violence against women and girls, both in the domestic sphere (such as intimate partner violence, child marriage, and FGM) and outside the home, including sexual harassment and rape. 

Recommen­dations

(that we aim to tackle in our programme)

• Collaboration with the local stakeholders, religious leaders and medical service providers: our focus should be on boosting the already existing services as well as strengthening the local service infrastructure that is deemed fragile. Establishment of community-based networks and supporting them is a crucial factor, too. 
• Promote income-generating activities: whereas learning about rights and claiming a role is a gradual process, taking up economical activities and a vacancy manifests the change in the role of women instantly. It also underlines the benefits of equality to community and households. 
• Promote intergenerational dialogue: it’s often mothers-in-law and elderly who hold the traditional beliefs and reproduce them. The report also notes the importance of men’s and boys’ involvement when it comes to combating gender-based violence. Thus it is important to bridge that generational and gender-based gap, as well as extend the program to deal with the cultural pressure of the extended family.  
• Multi-sectoral approach of first identifying and then fighting against many different forms of violence that are straining the communities. These efforts should involve schools, parents, children, and governmental stakeholders, as community cohesion and consensus are key values in the communities studied. 
• Gender transformative approach which promotes gender equality, the shared control of resources, mutual decision-making, and women’s empowerment is central to interventions addressing the root causes of child marriage, IPV and FGM.