The Contribution of Women to Peace and Reconciliation

Isim, Suldan, Boqor and Malaaq. In the clan system, women occupy a
marginalized position and are absent from the decision-making arena.
However, this marginalization enables and provides Somali women the
space to develop alliances, and build networks and relations with men
and women from other clans. Somali women utilize their marginalization
to tap into the resources and support from men and women belonging
to the opposing clans, which allows them to build peace and promote
reconciliation among groups within their communities.
Despite their subordinate position, Somali women remain very resource -
ful actors in their families, clans and communities. For example, they
provide resources in times of crises, and also provide free labour, particularly
logistical support services, such as cooking, cleaning, and caring
for the wounded and the sick in times of conflict or of peace. In addition,
precisely because of their lack of formal power, women are able to appeal
to warring groups to avert violence and pressure them to reconcile
with each other.
Within the discriminatory clan system, there exists a customary law
known as xeer that constitutes verbal contractual agreements that gov -
ern individual and collective rights and entitlements of men and women
belonging to specific clans. Each clan has male jurists that define such
rights and entitlements, most of which are granted to adult men. For
example, women do not participate in the meetings at which xeer contracts
are made. Under xeer law, Somali women are not recognized as
independent adults, but as dependent on their male relatives and their
spouses. Women’s exclusion from the xeer signifies that women are
not recognized as persons with the required skills, experience,
knowledge and abilities to qualify them to be part of the decision-making
process in the clan system. The exclusion of women from xeer nega -
tively affects their access to justice and protection, which can have grave
consequences. Xeer is still used in the nation-building processes in wartorn
Somalia, the intention being obtain political security; however, this
denies Somali women the opportunity to be equal partners in the decision-making
arena. For instance, in past national reconciliation conferences
when the transitional president was chosen, he and some of his
close male friends selected the prime minister in an exclusive meeting.
137