AMISOM Gender Units Conducts Training in Somalia

First contingent of Djibouti troops enter Somalia in a US-backed effort to liquidate the al-Shabaab Islamic resistance movement in the Horn of Africa state. The Pentagon and France have a military base in Djibouti at Camp Lemonier., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

Monday, February 25th, 2013 at 12:27 am

Somalia: AMISOM Gender unit conducts training in Baidoa, Beletweyne

PRESS RELEASE

AMISOM Gender unit conducts training in Baidoa, Beletweyne

Mogadishu, February 23rd 2013; The Gender Unit of the African Union Mission in Somalia this week conducted training of AMISOM uniformed personnel in Baidoa and Beletweyne.

The training sessions were held for Burundian and Djiboutian officers and focused on cultural awareness and gender issues.

AMISOM is engaged in strategic gender mainstreaming in all area of operations and similar training is planned for troops in Kismayo and Mogadishu.

The training is part of an ongoing effort by the AMISOM Gender Unit to reinforce the troops’ understanding of good Gender practice. AMISOM personnel receive pre-deployment and continuous in-theatre training on issues of gender equality and the rights of women and girls.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for Somalia (SRCC), Ambassador Mohamet Annadif, praised the work of the Gender Unit and said that AMISOM was committed to the protection of the rights of all Somalis, especially those of the most vulnerable. “A secure environment free of hunger, violence and intimidation is a necessary precondition for the full enjoyment of human rights. AMISOM is today helping the Somali government and security forces create such an environment within Somalia,” he added.