Saado Ali Co. : The politics of the Quota System

[LayZie G.]

There are many blog posts about the 2012- Somali Presidential Elections. There are open blog posts dedicated
to profiling appointed members of the Federal Parliament. And not so others talking about the demise of the
most recent President of the Transitional Federal Government accused of widespread corruption. But almost all of these threads have one thing in common, which is that most if not all have a comment or two related to the
quota system thats imbedded in the recently drafted constitution of the Somali Republic. Most if not all of these
commentaries complaint about the 30% quota afforded to women in the newly drafted constitution.


Out of 825 delegates (better known as the NCA(national Constituent Assembly) tasked with reviewing and voting on a draft Provisional Constitution, a document that serves as Somalia's legal frame, only asked to have 256
women, out of 825 delegates. We now know the outcome of such proposal.


The Islamists dismissed the proposal. The clan elders ignored the subject altogether, and the moderates cried
foul. Some went as far as saying that the outside world was forcing the quota system on Somalis, which is why without understanding the goal of the quota system that they said they do not believe quota system because
it was culturally incompatible.

And others refused to support the 30% representation afforded to their sisters and mothers, sighting the discriminatory nature of the quota system.


After Somalia's epic failure to meet its 30% quota in the selection of the National Constituent Assembly, the draft
constitution passed with some success. Nevertheless, it was welcomed news, even by some women.

Onto the process of including the council of elders who were tasked with nominating fellow clansmen to the
federal parliament. Again, the subject of the quota system was front and center. Some clan elders refused to
acknowledge that women were part and parcel of the clan system. They refused to acknowledge that women
were the fabric of our society. Instead, they voted for their interest, which is to say, they voted for more men
than women.

In most Somali districts, there are more women than men but we only asked to have 30% of 225
representatives of the lower house to be appointed to the federal parliament. Women asked to have 30% of 16
appointed senators to the senate in the upper house of the federal parliament.

Thats 68 women in lower house, 16 in the upper house, and lets not forget, a mere 256 to aid with the task of reviewing and voting on a legal document that will be binding. Why is it that women are half the world's population, majority in major Somali district but in some instances, they do not have political franchise?


Mida kale, hadaa tahay the Men of SOL, lets not forget, women are your mothers. They gave birth to you.
They fed and gave you shelter. And when some of the men were engaged in warfare (or in some instances, died or lost contact), women were there for you.

Your Ayeeyo, Hooyo, Eedo, and Habaryar were the ones who took the responsibility of the household.
They put on their motherly hat, and sometimes fatherly hat and buckled up for the long journey to settle in far
away land. In most Somali households, there are more female households today than there was 20 years ago.

They kept you safe and they raised you to be the men you are today.

But your men folks, your Awoowe, Aabo, Adeer and Abti repaid them with calaacal and threats. They
treat them as minors who do not deserve to be recognized as a person that has rights. They cite religious edicts (written by men) to support their unwavering position.


This is why the story should not be about whether or not Sheikh Sharif will survive and hold on to his post.
Or why Sharif Hassan (Sharif Sakiin) is appointed to the lower house of the federal government when he does
not meet the membership criteria for the federal parliament. (intimidation and threats wins the day.
He threatened to buy a high school diploma from Bakaraha Market)

Instead, we should be talking about the opportunity the quota system presents. We should debate the place
women should have in the political process and perhaps compare and contrast with Barre's 1970s family law
with the 30% quota system of 2012 . Barre was first to promote gender equality.


Also, the 30% should not be looked as a quota system but a means to transform our society. The mechanism behind the quota system affords Somalia a future that is filled hope and optimism. A new future that all Somalis,
men and women alike will have in a hand in building.


And for those of you who think the 4.5 formula is a success and who cheer your fellow clansmen upon reviewing the list of MPs, I ask you, why is that any different from having a quota system designed to better the country.
Our women are Somalia, and Somalia is our women. By appointing 68 women MPs, 16 Women Senators,
you are assuring the country's future.


Women were never a threat. Women are willing partners who will dedicate their lives to rebuilding the country.

Research shows that when women are actively engaged in nation building, poverty is reduced, the health and
the economy of the country improves. This in turn boast security and brings stability.


Contrary to popular believe, the goal of having a quota system is not to meet it. Its to deliver high
turnout and a large number of elected women and enhance women's political participation thereby leading to
more opportunity for women in the future. 30% is a benchmark. This is why there is no recourse today to meet
the 30% quota. NCA failed to meet the quota, and it was business as usual. The Council of Elders failed to meet the 30% quota and again, business as usual. As Ngonge would say, wax fahma.

Again, the goal is not to meet the 30%, the goal is to encourage women's political participation. This is
why women are not up in arms about the clan big wigs refusal to meet the quota, in the most recent elections
and the previous session of the National Constituent Assembly.


For those who think Somalia is a lone wolf in advocating quota system,
bal dib iskugu noqda oo halkan aqriya.

Between 2000 and 2002, elections were held in 23 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, with increases in

women parliamentarians in 14 of them. Most of the countries that have achieved significant increases in

women's participation have done so through the use of quotas - a form of affirmative action in favour of

women. Worldwide, about 30 of the world's more than 190 countries apply some form of female quotas

in politics.

Quotas, the report reveals, have had a positive effect on increasing women’s involvement in politics.

Out of the 59 countries that held elections last year, 17 of them had legislated quotas. In those countries,

women gained 27 per cent of parliamentary seats compared to 16 per cent in countries without quotas.

But research shows that the percentage of women parliamentarians

stands at 19.5 per cent – only a 0.5 per cent increase from last year – which means that less than one in five

parliamentarians across the world are women.

Also, little known fact about Rwanda, Africa's most successful child. The republic reinforces Unity,
Work and love of thy country. In turn, it brought its people together. Instead of playing the politics of division
thats mostly attributed to its tragic past, they united as one. Men and women alike work side by side in assuring a functioning government. And by rebuilding the countries infrastructure and focusing on policies driven to
grow the country's economy, they became the envy of all the failed states, Somalia included.


in large part, the success of Rwanda is attributed to its women. Because of the quota system embedded in
Rwanda's constitution, for the first time, women in Rwanda had political franchise and women played a key
role in rebuilding Rwanda.


Rwanda's constitution:-

Article 76 The Chamber of deputies shall be composed of 80 members as follows :

1° fifty three (53) are elected in accordance with the provisions of article 77 of this Constitution;

2°

twenty four (24) women

; that is : two from each Province and the City of Kigali.

Sub-section 3 : The Senate

Article 82

The Senate shall be composed of twenty six (26) members serving for a term of eight years (8) and at least

thirty per cent

(30 %) of whom are women

.

The World Bank now rates Rwanda as one of the world's 10 most-improved economies. "

Also, for those commentators who are critical of the numerical value of 30%, I ask you, do you want
Somalia to be a leader or a follower? Why do we care if the United States has less than 30% of women in public office? Does Somalia want to lead by example or do you want a Somali that models itself after the the United
States and Britain?



Read it here:

In South Africa and Mozambique, for example, women hold 30 per cent of the seats in

parliament - matching the international target. Women's representation in national parliaments across

sub-Saharan Africa equals the world average of about 15 per cent. Despite being one of the poorest regions

in the world, the level of women's representation in parliament in sub-Saharan Africa is higher than in many

wealthier countries, observes UNIFEM in its Progress of the World's Women 2002 report. In the US, France

and Japan for instance, women hold slightly more than 10 per cent of parliamentary seats.

FYI, Saado Ali is our Sharif Sakiin. She has not met the membership criteria of the federal parliament, but her
nomination was approved. For every sakiin, we have a Saado Ali.





Best Wishes,

LayZie G.