The Foundation conducts workshops on the ‘Representation of Women’s Interests in Governmental Oversight’.
The Max Planck Foundation continued its legal capacity building programme for female members of the Federal Member State Legislative Assemblies in Somalia under the German Federal Foreign Office funded project ‘Capacity Building and Legal Advice for the Federal Member State Legislative Assemblies in Somalia‘. A series of workshops was organised in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, South-West State, Puntland, and Jubaland.
The workshop kicked off with a general introduction on the topic and acquainted the participants with the parliamentary oversight tools and mechanisms. The presentation then focused on a gender-sensitive governmental oversight process and highlighted the importance of representing women interests therein. Five important steps to conduct gender-sensitive oversight were outlined, and the major focus of the presentation was a gender checklist for law enforcement oversight, which included important aspects to be covered during the oversight such as applicability and effectiveness during implementation, and implementing actions. The presentation drew on case studies from Malaysia, Jordan, Denmark, Canada, and Sweden and introduced the participants to different models of conducting gender-sensitive oversight. The presentation concluded by discussing current gaps in the representation of women’s interests in the different Somali government oversight processes and exploring key takeaways to strengthen the linkage between parliamentary oversight and gender equality efforts.
The workshop was held for female members of the Legislative Assemblies of South-West State in Baidoa on 29 August 2023, of Jubaland in Kismayo on 02 September 2023, for the female members of the Legislative Assemblies of Hirshabelle in Jowhar on 04 September 2023, of Galmudug in Dhusumareb on 16 September 2023, and for the female members of the Legislative Assembly of Puntland in Garowe on 16 October 2023.
In all five locations, the workshop triggered very interesting discussions among the female members of the Somali Federal Member State Legislative Assemblies and some of their male counterparts, who also attended the workshops. The participants highly appreciated the workshop sessions as they provided for the possibility of looking at “Governmental Oversight” through the lens of a gender-responsive approach.