Picture: ©UNICEF Ethiopia/2023/Mulugeta Ayene
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.
(that we aim to tackle in our programme)
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