Somaliland National Disability Federation (SNDF) in partnership with Somaliland NGOs consortium carried out one day review meeting to assess the progress made on the development of the national disability act. This was done by engaging all the relevant stakeholders to fast track on the finalization and validation of the Act. Absence of Disability Act is a major issue continuing to prevent people with disabilities from progressing. Without effective disability act setting forth advancement of the people with disabilities, no tangible progress will be realized.
a) SNDF’s Brief Background Information
SNDF is a legally registered local NGO based in Hargesia, Somaliland. Registered under the Ministry of Planning and National Development and in accordance with Somaliland NGO Law No. 43/2010, the organization is dedicated to empowering persons with disabilities through capacity building, advocacy, and lobbying for their rights. The organization’s mission is to promote society inclusiveness by building their capacity through networking, awareness raising, advocacy and mainstreaming development programs, policies and decision making processes. The organization is working in all the six regions of Somaliland for the last 13 years in partnership with both local and international Partners assisting those affected by natural disasters, conflict and poverty.
People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Somaliland are faced with many challenges and obstacles including but not limited to discrimination and stigma. Historical injustices continue to be perpetuated in all spheres of life within the society. In addition, PWDs are subjected to discrimination when it comes to employment opportunities in private and public sectors; members
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from PWDs are also denied opportunities to education and, where they are admitted, the schools to which they are assigned lack basic physical access facilities like rams. In the health sector, PWDs don’t easily access hospital or clinical centers due to the physical barriers coupled with discrimination from health workers who shun them because of their disability.
Socially, PWDs are often stigmatized and shunned by families. Families with children with disabilities often hide them indoors and deny them to interact with the rest of the children in the community. Such children are also denied their rights to education and extracurricular activities, thus destroying their lives. Disabled girls or boys are also not allowed to marry from any family because of their disability, which is considered a curse and a permanent sign of poverty.
In short, all buildings be they public, private or otherwise have no accessible facilities for PWDs. Worse still, there is no legislation providing for such infrastructure for the benefit of PWDs. Moreover, PWDs cannot gain access to information they require because of their disability. They have lower access to education opportunities, employment opportunities, political participation and decision-making process compared to the rest of the society. In essence, PWDs have been totally excluded from all development processes aimed at realizing sustainable development Goals (SDGs).
SNDF in partnership with Somaliland NGOs Consortium conducted a one day consultative meeting to lobby for the validation of the national disability act in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
This report sums up the implementation process and the achievements of the event.
b) Meeting Objectives
To review the progress made on the National disability act and Policies affecting the PWDs in Somaliland.
To engage all relevant stakeholders (local leaders, line ministries, national authorities, CSOs, Parliament representatives, government officers, etc) on issues affecting people with disabilities.
To continue advocating and lobbying for the eventual approval and enactment of Somaliland National Disability Act.
c) Meeting Outputs and Outcome
Reviewed the progress made on the national disability act
Enhanced the understanding of the participants on the policies and the legal framework on issues affecting PWDs in Somaliland
Promoted national awareness of the disability act
Engaged policy makers to enhance the implementation of the national disability act
A narrative report of the activity published and disseminated to various stakeholders.
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d) Meeting Methodology Used
A power point presentation of the draft act document was presented to the participants
A panel and group discussions were conducted to discuss the progress made on the National Disability Act and Policies on issues affecting the people with disabilities in Somaliland
IEC materials including banners, stickers, cups and posters were printed and disseminated to the participants.
2.0 DURATION OF THE EVENT
The Consultative meeting on the progress made in respect to the Somaliland National disability act and policies was one day event held on the 19th October, 2022.
3.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Somaliland National Disability Federation in partnership with Somaliland NGOs consortium carried out a one day review meeting to assess the progress made on the development of the national disability act. This was done by engaging all the relevant stakeholders to fast track on the finalization and validation of the act.
A total of eighty (80) participants from all the important stakeholders of the act took part in the workshop including, Members of the parliament, government officials, line ministries ( the ministry of employment, social affairs and the family, ministry of education and science, Ministry of Parliamentary Relations and Constitutional Affairs, Somaliland national human right commission, civil society organizations, lawyers, disable people organizations and representative from the people with disabilities.
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4.0 PROCEEDING OF THE EVENT
The event started with participants’ registration followed by the opening remarks from the different guest speakers.
The deputy chairperson of SNDF, Mr. Osman Ahmed Abdi introduced the event objectives and welcomed the workshop participants.” I would like to thank Somaliland NGOs Consortium for making this meeting possible. Secondly in this meeting we are reviewing the progress made on the development of Somaliland National Disability act. I would like to thank the members of the parliament and other honorable guests for their participation in this workshop. A draft document of the act was produced and submitted to the ministers’ cabinet for review and validation. Hopefully the act will address the challenges faced by PWDs in Somaliland. I am kindly requesting all concerned relevant stakeholders to speed up the process of the act validation .”.
On the other hand, the chairperson of Somaliland NGOs consortium madam Halimo Elmi said, “I would like to thank SNDF for making this meeting possible. This is not the first time we work with SNDF and we are committed to continue supporting the national disability umbrella. I would like to thank the MPs for their attendance in this meeting and requesting them to take the lead and address the legal frame work on challenges facing PWDs in Somaliland. I hope and trust that you will advocate for the validation of the nation disability act. Thank you all for being part of this workshop.”
At the same time, SONSAF chairperson Mr. Anwar also spoke during the opening session of the workshop and said, “On behalf of SONSAF I would like to thank SNDF for their tireless efforts to ensure that the rights of PWDs are realized in Somaliland. I am happy to see that all the important stakeholders are present in this workshop and this will facilitate and ensure a common understanding of the challenges faced by PWDs in Somaliland; Hence will make the act validation process smoother and faster. Many PWDs lost their right for voting because of unfriendly infrastructures. Thank you all for your efforts and let us move the act validation process forward.”
The disability department director for ministry of labor and social affairs Mr. Abdilahi Rabi said, “Thank you everyone for being part of this workshop. I would like to thank SNDF and Somali NGOs consortium for their important role in the realization of the rights of PWDs in Somaliland. When I was appointed as the director of disability department the act was not even drafted. Thanks to God the act is now submitted to ministers’ cabinet for review and validation. I would like to thank the MPs for their time in this workshop and hopefully they will advocate and lobby for the validation of the act to support the most vulnerable groups in our society.”
Meanwhile, Hon. Abdikarem Mohamed a member of economics committee in Somaliland House of Representatives remarked, “I am delighted to be part of this important workshop. I know that PWDs in Somaliland are facing many challenges and I will do my best to ensure that the disability act is validated when it is submitted to us. Enabling the legal framework for PWDs is important to help them achieve their full potential. I promise that I will advocate for the validation of the act. I will do my best to empower PWDs.”
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On the other hand, Hon. Fuad Ahmed a member of justice committee in Somaliland House of Representatives stated, “The rights of PWDs in Somaliland are neglected and we should unite our efforts to empower PWDs. I promise I will advocate and fast track the validation of the disability act when its submitted to us. I would like to thank SNDF and other implementing partners for their role in development of the act.”
Hon. Ahmed Khalif, a member of social committee in Somaliland House of Representatives remarked, “We will review and validate the act as soon as it’s submitted to us. I promise we will make sure that the act is protecting your rights and addressing the challenges you face. I am kindly requesting from the president to speed up the validation of the act and present the act to his cabinet. I believe that all the MPs will fully agree and validate the act when it’s submitted to us. PWDs should never give up and we will fight for the realization of your rights. Let us all hope for the best.”
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The deputy manager of Somaliland national press, Mr. Abdiasis Asowe pointed out that the provision of the national disability act was the brain child of the president. “The president was the first to recognize the need for national disability act and the government is committed to address the challenges faced by PWDs. I am requesting the MPs not to politicize the act and quickly validate it when its submitted to them.”
The general director of ministry of parliamentarian relations and constitutional affairs Mrs. Deqa Abdi Yusuf officially opened the workshop. “Ministry of social affairs was leading the development process of the act and our ministry is willing to contribute if the act is submitted to them. PWDs deserve to be mainstreamed and supported. We all know that they are striving under difficult circumstances. I hope that the act will help them overcome some of the challenges they face. I would like to thank SNDF and Somaliland NGOs consortium for conducting this workshop.”
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The workshop participants who were mainly PWDs shared their views on what to expect from the act. Their expectations are summed up in the following bullets:-
The act should address the accessibility challenges faced by PWDs
The act should provide free education and health services for PWDs
The act should protect the rights of PWDs
The act should promote inclusion and social mainstreaming of PWDs
The act should promote the social mainstreaming, economic empowerment, educational opportunities and political inclusion of PWDs
The act should provide free legal clinic aid services for PWDs
Lastly, the meeting’s facilitator presented a power point presentation on the act and discussed the 48 articles in the act with the participants.
5.0 MEETING ACHIEVEMENTS
Enhanced the understanding of the policies and the legal framework affecting PWDs in Somaliland.
Promoted national awareness of the disability act.
Engaged policy makers to enhance the finalization and the validation of the act.
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6.0 CONCLUSION
The event ended successfully with objectives achieved. The workshop provided the platform for all the relevant stakeholders to come together and discuss the importance of fast tracking the validation of the national disability act to ensure that the rights of PWDs are realized sooner rather than later.
In addition, the meeting engaged policy makers and decision makers for the enactment of the national disability act. The different stakeholders that participated in the meeting promised to support the realization of the rights of PWDs.
Lastly, the meeting promoted national awareness of the disability act as the messages of the different guest speakers were broadcasted through local TVs, Radio Hargeisa and was also printed in local newspapers. 
