The Republic of Somaliland formerly British Protectorate declared
its independence from united Somalia after the total collapse of Somalia on 18
May 1991 and the country still awaits international recognition. The country has a population of about 3.5 million people. Most local
residents belong to the Somali ethnicity, Somalia’s largest demographic group.
Fifty-five per cent of the population is either nomadic or semi-nomadic, while
45% live in urban centers or rural towns, which include the capital city
Hargeisa with an estimated population of 0.65 million and Burao, Borama,
Berbera, Erigavo and Las Anod. The main religion practiced is Islam – Sunni. Follow us on Facebook
In
Somaliland, where nomadic pastoralist is the dominant way of life and culture,
three clans-groups of the society are considered outcast minorities (Tumals,
Yibirs and Gaboye) they suffer from low social and economic status and
experienced centuries discrimination and segregation within the Somaliland
society. The communities from the three outcast minorities who are locally called
(the Midgan), are politically discriminated, socio-economically segregated,
culturally marginalized, and economically excluded, they face a severe every
day discrimination practice denied all their basic and fundamental
socioeconomic, cultural and political rights.
The
Somaliland outcast minorities are believed descendants of the above indigenous
groups that are locally known as the "Gaboye, Yibirs and Tumaal"
which implies a concept of "inferior people”, While they are described
with a social stigma as "Untouchables which defines them as "Sub
humans. They are socially segregated, culturally marginalized and economically
excluded as denials of their overall human rights. Thus, they become the
poorest of the poor in Somaliland, as they excluded from all country’s
development opportunities, they denied access to the profit gained jobs and
basic education.
The
Somaliland minorities collectively – and minority members individually – suffer
denial and abuse of the whole range of basic human rights set out in
international and regional conventions including the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), International Covenant on Economic, Social
and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), Convention Against Torture (CAT), International
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD),
and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, all of which are legally
binding on Somaliland.
The
traditional clan structure formed by the Somaliland majority clans continues to
exclude outcast minorities from political participation and employment; limits
their access to justice where abuse has been perpetrated against them or they
stand accused of a crime; denies them their rights to development, education
and sustainable livelihoods; and places restrictions on intermarriage between
majorities and minorities. In Somaliland, due to their lack of political
representation, low educational levels and poor employment opportunities, very
few minority members are in positions of prominence or leadership.
Against
this background, in 2004 a concerned minority youth who come from outcast
minority groups come together to address against and find durable solutions for
the above mentioned socio-cultural, economic and political challenges hinder
the day to day live in their communities and finally agreed to establish a
non-governmental minority right based organization called Ubah Social Welfare
Organization - USWO.
GET INVOLVED
IN:
Strengthening
the capacities of minorities in Somaliland and secure their rights in the horn
region in advance at worldwide democracy
OUR VISION:
USWO’s
vision is that of a Somaliland society that is equitable, just and
discrimination free, regardless of caste or ethnic origin.
MISSION:
USWO
works to contribute to the creation of equitable and inclusive society through
the elimination of caste-based discrimination and untouchability through
providing the disadvantaged and marginalized minority people with the tools
needed to deal with their social, educational, environmental, health, economic
and cultural issues and concerns.
OUR
STRATEGIC GOALS OR FOCUS:
- Create awareness to Somaliland
outcast minorities regarding the caste system of Somaliland and its
associated manifestations through the media (print and electronic)
- Create awareness to Somaliland
outcast minorities on various environment and natural resources related
issues in order to enhance the environmental justice to Somaliland outcast
minorities
- Become established as a publication
agency for the distribution of literature pertaining to the Somaliland
outcast minority community.
- Establish strong networks (both at
national and international levels) and coordination with the
intellectuals, political leaders, and Somaliland outcast minority
activists in order to bring Somaliland outcast minority communities into
the mainstream of national development.
- Undertake research/study regarding
social inclusion, Somaliland outcast minorities and poverty related issues
- Carry out human resources and
economic development activities in order to support the Somaliland outcast
minority communities through micro-finance and polytechnic skill
development training.
- Implement education/training
campaigns for community mobilization and social empowerment of Somaliland
outcast minorities.
- Enforce the government for the implementation of various international/UN conventions related to caste issues to which Somaliland is a signatory and disseminate information regarding national and international laws relating to Somaliland outcast minorities and discrimination Facilitate discussions between the Somaliland outcast minorities and Somaliland majority communities for the effective execution of good governance, decentralization, inclusion and democratization process.
- Reduce discrimination within the intern-Somaliland outcast minority group.
Author
Eng.
Abshir Digalle
Executive
director
USWO
Organization
Mob:
+252 63 63 440 2499
Email: uswo.ed@gmail.com
Website: www.uswosom.org/
Blogger: http://uswosom.blogspot.com/
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