Women are the ones who are greatly affected by misfortunes in this country such as conflicts, economic upheavals, unemployment and abject poverty. We must be at the forefront of the struggle for social, political and economic emancipation of Somali women because the future of Somalia depends on them.
We have to curb the scourge of such high levels of violence against women and children, which has relegated women to the status of mosquitoes whose lives can be squashed at any point when they are perceived as irritating or inconvenient or disposable.

FESTU and its affiliated twelve unions pay tribute to the millions of women who are battling the odds. We remember the suffering of the oppressed women of Somalia and everywhere else. We will be vocal in campaigning for a country that is free from the rape, discrimination and murder of innocent women. We call on all working women to be on the frontline of the class struggle.

We are inspired by the bravery of women, mostly young women, who successfully campaigned for and won seats at the Senate and the federal parliament of Somalia. We reiterate our calls for zero tolerance towards politically motivated violence and intimidations, and for the creation of a conducive political environment that encourages women’s participation in all institutions and agencies of government.
FESTU calls on everyone to fight the evil scourge of violence against women, sexual abuses and all other forms of women abuses. We all have to collectively raise our voice in condemnation of all those who exploit women in their workplaces and intensify the struggle for equal pay for equal work. Let us all fight, in full force, the social and economic exploitation of women.

FESTU re-affirms its commitment to fight for the full emancipation of women and urges the new federal government of Somalia, under the leadership of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed Farmaajo, to ensure women have their full human and labour rights.

Working class: unite to end violence against women!

Let’s put policies into action!

Ahmed Osman Said PRESIDENT

Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)

Omar Faruk Osman GENERAL SECRETARY
Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU)