MOGADISHU, March 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Friday called on Somalia leaders to invest in women's empowerment to enhance their contributions to peacebuilding and reconciliation in the country.

UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia Catriona Laing said the authorities should invest greater effort in ensuring women's inclusion in politics and making the minimum 30 percent quota for women's parliamentary representation a reality.

"The minimum 30 percent quota will go a long way to helping promote gender equality and women's empowerment in Somalia," Laing said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, to mark International Women's Day.

Despite numerous challenges, Laing said Somali women continue to make significant contributions to peacebuilding and reconciliation through service as lawmakers, in civil society organizations and on youth associations.

"But there needs to be even more investment of resources to build on this progress as investing in women is a cornerstone for building inclusive societies," she said.

Laing said the UN supports the Somali government in its efforts to increase women's political participation and enact laws that strengthen the protection of women and girls that comply with Somalia's human rights obligations and meet international human rights standards. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)