About us
Supporting Refugees and IDPs Women in Somalia
Women refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Somalia face complex and deeply rooted challenges. Displacement—driven by ongoing conflict, climate change, and economic instability—disproportionately affects women and girls. Many live in overcrowded, insecure camps or informal settlements, where access to basic services is limited. These conditions increase their vulnerability to gender-based violence, poor maternal healthcare, and lack of access to education and livelihoods.
Women IDPs often shoulder the burden of supporting their families under extremely difficult circumstances, with little access to justice or protection. Discrimination, trauma, and social exclusion further exacerbate their plight, making it essential to center their voices and rights in humanitarian and development responses.
At Somali Defenders, we are committed to promoting the rights and well-being of displaced women and girls through the following key actions
- Advocacy and Awareness: We raise awareness about the unique struggles faced by displaced women and advocate for gender-sensitive policies and humanitarian interventions at national and international levels.
- Legal Aid and Protection: Our legal assistance programs help women access justice, particularly survivors of gender-based violence. We also train legal professionals on gender-sensitive approaches.
- Capacity Building: We work to empower displaced women with skills training, human rights education, and leadership development to enhance their resilience and participation in community life.
- Collaboration and Inclusion: We engage directly with displaced women to ensure their voices guide our work. We also collaborate with local and international partners to strengthen services and protection mechanisms.
Somali Defenders strives to see a Somalia where all displaced women and girls live in dignity, free from violence and discrimination, and have equal access to rights, opportunities, and protection. Through persistent advocacy, legal empowerment, and community-led action, we strive to make this vision a reality.
Somali defenders is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights, social justice, rule of law, child rights and child protection, sustainable peace and democratic development in Somalia.
A society where human rights are held in high esteem, respected, promoted and guaranteed by all stakeholders.
SD is guided by the following objectives;
1) To create initiatives that improve access to quality education for all, with a special emphasis on marginalized communities
2) To focus on empowering youth and women, recognizing their susceptibility to socio-economic challenges through skills training, mentorship, and access to financial resources
3) To conduct advocacy on human rights highlighting the importance of raising awareness about human rights and the need for their protection in Somalia
4) To address gender-based violence by establishing support systems for survivors, which will include counseling, legal assistance, and safe housing
5) To enhance healthcare access, promote health education, and address issues related to maternal and child health, nutrition, and disease prevention in Somalia
6) To support for good governance will be fostered by encouraging transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation in decision-making processes in Somalia.
Core value
Respect
We are committed to treat the people we serve with dignity and to listen to them for solutions that work best for them.
Nonpartisan
We believe in serving all people who are in need with impartiality and in an equitable manner.
Quality
We strive to meet our objectives, serve our beneficiaries and satisfy expectations of all stakeholders to the best of our ability.
Accountability
We are committed to being responsible and transparent in all our activities.
Advocacy
We seek to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our society are able to take part in decisions that affect their lives.
Innovation
We are a learning organization dedicated to seeking appropriate and effective interventions for poverty and enhancing the standard of living in the Horn of Africa.