AFRIMAs partner with UNFPA on #HopeForSomalia campaign

The #HopeForSomalia campaign, which champions policy-stimulating petitions and fosters fundraisers to help alleviate the harsh impact of civil wars and security challenges on Somalis, particularly Somali women and young girls, will herald the eighth AFRIMAs in Dakar, Senegal from 12 to 15 January 2023.

The award platform says the agreement aligns with its character as an impact-driven social initiative.

“A popular narrative about Africa is that it is a war-torn habitat without any hope for sustainable peace in sight,” AFRIMAs’ president and executive producer, Mike Dada, said. “It’s sad because the danger of that narrative is that it discourages actual solutions. Somalia has enjoyed peace for years and even bears a reputation for being one of Africa’s most pro-democratic societies. We cannot watch and fold our arms, seeing innocent women and children have their lives and dreams cut short by the conflict, terrorism or this climate crisis, without any form of aid or relief.

Commenting on the development, UNFPA representative in Somalia Niyi Ojuolape noted that women and girls are the most hit by the crisis, urging for support to end the gory situation and to ameliorate the impact. “Somalia is facing a complex and devastating crisis,” he said. “Over 82% of those displaced are women and children, including 1.95 million women and girls of reproductive age.

“Rising food prices, water shortages, death of livestock, and loss of livelihoods have led to multiple displacements, making women and girls more vulnerable to increased gender-based violence (GBV) and exploitation. Data shows a 21% increase in reported rape cases, a 60% increase in reported cases of intimate partner violence, and a 20% increase in the number of women and girls accessing lifesaving GBV response services since last year.”

Ojuolape also pleaded with the international donor community to “urgently prioritise the support of quality sexual and reproductive health services, GBV prevention as well as improved response to help prevent death, disease and disability for women and girls in Somalia.”

The eighth AFRIMAs, tagged ‘Teranga Edition’, are being held in partnership with the African Union Commission. The festival will be broadcast by 104 TV stations to over 84 countries around the world.

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