Somalia launches renewed women’s voice and leadership program to empower women
Somalia’s Minister of Family and Human Rights, Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, has launched the updated Women’s Voice and Leadership Program (RWVLS) in Mogadishu. The initiative empowers women through leadership training, civic engagement, and decision-making, addressing structural barriers and amplifying women’s voices across Somalia’s social, political, and economic spheres.
Somalia’s Minister of Family and Human Rights, Ambassador Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, on Thursday officially launched the updated Women’s Voice and Leadership Program (RWVLS) in Mogadishu.
The program aims to empower Somali women by enhancing their participation in leadership, decision-making, and civic engagement, forming part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to promote gender equality and women’s rights.
In her keynote address at the opening ceremony, Minister Al-Makhzoumi highlighted the ministry’s ongoing initiatives to support women and the importance of the RWVLS program. She stated, “This initiative comes at a critical time for our country, a period marked by national transformation, expanded opportunities, and strengthened institutions, yet still faced with challenges that disproportionately affect the lives of women and girls.”
The launch reflects sustained efforts by the Ministry of Family and Human Rights to promote women’s empowerment, provide training and resources, and encourage active participation in political, social, and economic spheres. Officials and stakeholders emphasized that the updated RWVLS program will strengthen women’s leadership skills, amplify their voices in decision-making, and support broader gender equality goals in Somalia.
The initiative also seeks to address structural barriers while creating platforms for women to engage meaningfully in public and community life, ensuring that their perspectives are included in the nation’s development agenda.
