SIHA Story Book- English by SIHA Network

SIHA A story of courage and spirit of women in the Greater Horn of Africa

Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa

In the mid-nineties, in Hargeisa, the capital city of Somaliland, a golden sun topped by a rainbow announced the birth of a beautiful baby girl named 6LKD +HU ÀUVW FULHV UDQJ RXW DV DQ DSSHDO WR WKH collective human conscience, a plea for awareness and a challenge against all kinds of violence directed WRZDUG ZRPHQ DQG JLUOV 6LKD·V FULHV GHPDQGHG DQ end to fragmentation and extremism and invoked the voice of the wise, moral, and graceful. Women from around the Greater Horn of Africa UHJLRQ KHDUG LQ WKRVH ÀUVW FULHV D UHÁHFWLRQ RI their dreams and hopes for justice and equality, despite the turbulent conditions that surrounded them. The women of Somalia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, and South Sudan offered many congratulations and greetings. They

offered congratulations on the birth, prayers that security and peace would prevail, and a pledge to protect the child and work together to remove all obstacles that keep women and girls from living their lives fully. 2Q 6LKD·V ÀUVW ELUWKGD\ PRWKHUV DQG WKHLU children danced around her while she swayed with delight to the sounds of the Kaban and the drums. Her eyes were sparkling with intelligence and joy as she listened to the beautiful sounds of traditional Somali music with its poetic lyrics that spoke of peace for all. The sweetness of xalwo and the warm smells of freshly made VDPEXVDV ÀOOHG WKH DLU

Until 2000, SIHA grew and moved with her mothers between Somaliland, Djibouti, and Kenya, where she lived among impoverished women displaced by wars. During that time, she learned to walk and repeat with love words such as Mama, Ummi, Yomma, Hooyo, Maman, and Inati, calling any woman by these titles. The mothers would hug her and kiss her on her soft dewy cheek, praying for her health and wellness and sheltering her from envy and the evil eye. Siha also visited Ethiopia, where she met many young girls who had migrated from their homelands and had faced very GLIÀFXOW FRQGLWLRQV 6RPH PLJUDWHG WR HVFDSH FRQÁLFW RU GDQJHU RWKHUV OHIW WR

ÀQG D MRE WR KHOS WKHLU IDPLOLHV 7KHVH JLUOV FDPH IURP 6XGDQ (ULWUHD Somalia, Somaliland, and other parts of Ethiopia. Siha admired these brave young girls who ignited her passion for advocacy. She wanted to become an advocate for the safety and rights of mixed-migrant women and girls and for social, economic, and political changes that address the root causes of dangerous migratory patterns. In the year 2000, the women of Sudan invited Siha to visit them. Upon her arrival, the women embraced her and enveloped her in a blanket of safety. She never felt lonely in her new country. Siha was the daughter of all mothers and the sister of all children. She played with the other children and encouraged them to accept one another. Siha communicated, LQÁXHQFHG FRQYH\HG WKH FXOWXUHV RI WKH *UHDWHU +RUQ RI $IULFD OHDUQHG the local languages quickly, participated in all forms of art, and contributed to civil and voluntary campaigns. In Sudan, her talent for singing, folk dancing, theatre, and public speaking grew gradually.

Siha visited many of the cities and villages of Sudan including, Kassala and al-Gadarif, where the land is green and extensive. The Waza &KLOGUHQ·V 0XVLFDO %DQG ZHOFRPHG KHU WR $O Damazin. Charmed by the sounds of Psalms and the Kalash rhythms, she jumped into the dancing arena. Siha and the mothers performed the ritual rain dance to make the rain pour down, and the people rejoice. The religious leader, Kujur, FKRVH 6LKD DV D EOHVVHG ÀJXUH :LWK D VLJQ IURP KHU WKH DWWHQGHHV VHW ÀUH WR EUDQFKHV DQG threw them from the mountaintop to illuminate the surrounding areas. Drums, waza trumpets, and horns rang out, inviting everyone to join the celebration.

Siha continued her journey through the steep Nuba Mountains with WKHLU

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climbed mountains with the other girls, collected ripe fruits from trees, and looked after sheep and cows. The Kembla dancers DWWUDFWHG 6LKD·V DWWHQWLRQ DQG she danced to the rhythm of the Kurnuk. The audience admired her skill, and the mothers immediately composed songs under the name

Siha. In the Nuba Mountains, Siha presented several speeches WR VSUHDG DZDUHQHVV DERXW JLUOV· ULJKWV WR HGXFDWLRQ DQG KHDOWK She urged the listeners to protect girls in places with armed FRQÁLFW DQG DGKHUH WR LQWHUQDWLRQDO FRYHQDQWV ZKLFK JUDQW JLUOV the right to a decent life, free from the dangers of harmful customs and gender-based violence. 7KH PRWKHUV RI 'DUIXU HDJHUO\ DZDLWHG 6LKD·V DUULYDO ,Q WKH city of El Fasher, the women received her in front of the 6XOWDQ·V KRXVH GUHVVHG LQ EHDXWLIXO 0HUDP FORWKHV DQG FDUU\LQJ colourful dishes and ribbons. They took Siha to the villages, neighbourhoods, and displacement camps to show her the living conditions of the girls there. The mothers listened with interest while Siha spoke to them about her experiences and the movement for the rights of women and girls happening in the different countries and cultures of the Greater Horn of Africa.

Girls in Darfur were aware of their rights and knew how to PLWLJDWH WKH HIIHFWV RI DUPHG FRQÁLFWV DQG FLYLO ZDUV 6LKD learned a lot from the girls in the camps and exchanged experiences with them. Motivated by the inequalities she had seen with her own eyes, Siha launched advocacy associations in cities, rural areas, and displacement camps. The people of Darfur began calling Siha the Mairam Siha or Al-Miram, which means a strong, caring, compassionate woman who is knowledgeable and unafraid to explore different paths in life. 6LKD UHWXUQHG WR .KDUWRXP ÀOOHG ZLWK SURIRXQG NQRZOHGJH DERXW the cultures, societies, and problems facing women and girls in the different Sudanese states. With what she had learned while traveling, she was keen to engage the women and girls living and working as informal labourers in the countryside and RQ WKH FDSLWDO·V RXWVNLUWV 6LKD ZRUNHG ZLWK WKHP WR DGYRFDWH safe and fair working conditions and raise awareness about the violence and harassment the women faced at the hands of local

authorities, including having their property and equipment IRU SUHSDULQJ IRRG DQG WHD FRQÀVFDWHG ,Q WKH QDPH RI public order laws, the women informal labourers were often subjected to rushed and unfair trials, where punishments ZHUH D ÀQH DQG ÁRJJLQJ D GHJUDGLQJ DQG KXPLOLDWLQJ YLRODWLRQ of their human rights. Other women were subjected to political detention and torture solely for being of ethnic or religious minority backgrounds. When Siha travelled to South Sudan in 2005, she felt a sense of home and familiarity. She recognized the faces of the South Sudanese mothers who supported her from the moment of her birth. In Rumbek, Abyei, Malakal, Juba, and Wau, Siha spread her message about justice, peace, and equality. She helped local communities to raise their voices and speak out about their emerging issues. Siha helped to establish Cultural Associations inside the displacement camps in Rumbek and Abyei. She also encouraged cultural

activities like Theatres for Change, which allow women, girls, and youth to express themselves through drama to spread awareness about gender-based violence and peaceful coexistence. Siha continued to visit South Sudan throughout the years. She worked on bettering conditions for women prisoners and running advocacy campaigns to reform the ODZV WKDW DOORZ ZRPHQ·V VXSSUHVVLRQ $W WKH HQG RI HYHU\ visit, Siha leaves behind many sisters who, guided by their shared vision for a safer and more peaceful South Sudan, continue to raise her banner and push the entire community WR UHFRJQL]H JLUOV· ULJKWV WR VDIHW\ DQG HGXFDWLRQ From 2007 to 2008, security forces in Khartoum arrested Siha several times. The police placed her under strict surveillance due to her uncompromising support for the causes and rights of girls and women in areas of armed FRQÁLFW LQ 'DUIXU WKH %OXH 1LOH DQG WKH 1XED 0RXQWDLQV %HLQJ DUUHVWHG DV D FKLOG ZKR KDG QRW \HW VHHQ KHU ÀIWHHQWK

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birthday left its effect on Siha and endangered her life. Yet, Siha emerged from that hardship stronger and with relentless resolve and great determination to continue her DFWLYLVP LQ VXSSRUWLQJ DQG FKDPSLRQLQJ ZRPHQ·V FDXVHV even if that activism was to cost her own life. %HFDXVH RI DUUHVWV WRUWXUH DQG KDUDVVPHQW 6LKD KDG WR OHDYH .KDUWRXP LQ ZKHQ VKH ZDV RQO\ ÀIWHHQ 6KH went to Uganda to continue her education and constructive activity from there. Siha left a legacy of consciousness and light to illuminate the darkness for her “little sisters” in Sudan and encouraged them to continue their struggle to defend their complete and undiminished rights. In Kampala, Siha was welcomed and loved. She soon found a comfortable house where she could continue her activism work surrounded by a diverse group of Ugandan mothers with whom she had developed a bond. Through their network,

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Siha was able to meet her sisters, exchange ideas, and learn about the daily struggles of ZRPHQ :LWK WKH KHOS RI D VFLHQWLÀF JHQGHU and social policy research centre and the library at Makerere University, Siha organized FRQIHUHQFHV DQG SUHVHQWHG VFLHQWLÀF SDSHUV RQ ZRPHQ·V LVVXHV ,Q 8JDQGD 6LKD EUHDWKHG a sigh of relief and realized that this was the most appropriate place to continue her work to achieve her goals. SIHA travelled to the West Nile region in Uganda. She travelled to the Mobutu Nile that ÁRZV QRUWK WR WKH FLW\ RI 1LPXOH LQ 6RXWK Sudan, where it meets the Nile river. This region borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the south and west, South Sudan to the north, and the Albert Nile to the east.

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The town of Arua is the largest in the West Nile region. Arua lies approximately 498 kilometres (309 miles) by road from Kampala, the capital of Uganda and the largest city in the country. SIHA made Arua her home, and there she met her sisters from across the districts of Koboko, Moyo, and Nebbi. SIHA interacted with women traders in local markets in Arua and women vendors who crossed the borders into South Sudan and the Congo. Siha worked with these women to amplify their voices and expose the danger they faced while simply attempting to earn a living. Siha found that she had many friends among the women and members of the local communities. They laughed together and learned from each other while sharing a meal of posho and bo. Siha also travelled to the town of Kitgum in the Acholi region and later to the Karamoja region. She found that her sisters in those areas shared many of the same concerns and challenges. Siha shared a strong bond with

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the women, and they became a pillar of support for her during her stay in Uganda. %HWZHHQ WKH DJHV RI VL[WHHQ DQG WZHQW\ WKUHH 6LKD matured and gained more awareness about the challenges facing women and girls throughout the region. Her mind sparked with intelligence and elegance, her star shone brightly, and Siha was happy to be surrounded by her sisters, mothers, and brothers. From 2010 through 2017, 6LKD·V VLVWHUV IURP 'MLERXWL 6XGDQ 6RXWK 6XGDQ (ULWUHD Ethiopia, Uganda, Somaliland, and Somalia passionately DGYRFDWHG ZRPHQ·V ULJKWV DQG DZDUHQHVV DERXW JHQGHU based issues. Over the years, Siha helped her sisters. Through support and encouragement, she guided them in developing advocacy campaigns and projects to empower women politically and economically and restore their rights as laid out in international charters and treaties.

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6LKD LV EUDYH VWURQJ VROLG DQG SURXG 6KH KROGV KHU KHDG KLJK DQG GHÀHV all attempts to belittle, demean, and underestimate the accomplishments of African women. Her determination does not waiver in the face of misogynist voices that hide behind the fake masks of religious, moral authority (the Sultan clergy). She exposes the discriminatory acts of those who seek to bend jurisprudential fatwa to their own ends in contradiction of the purposes of Sharia. Siha knows she will prevail and that her mothers, sisters, and brothers are all fully prepared to defend her and her ambitious projects. 1RZ 6LKD KDV UHDFKHG WKH DJH RI WZHQW\ ÀYH DQG KDV DFFXPXODWHG NQRZOHGJH and wisdom from her many experiences. Her fame is far-reaching, and her VXSSRUW LQFUHDVHV ZRUOGZLGH 7RGD\ 6LKD LV DV SRZHUIXO DQG LQÁXHQWLDO DV DQ\ RWKHU ZRPHQ DQG JLUOV· ULJKWV LQVWLWXWLRQ 6LKD KDV ZRUNHG WLUHOHVVO\ WR GHYHORS FRPPXQLW\ DZDUHQHVV DERXW ZRPHQ·V LVVXHV WKURXJK DGYRFDF\ SURJUDPV DQG FDPSDLJQV DQG VKH KDV VWRRG ÀUP against all types of violence against women and girls. Now, she is starting to see the fruits of her labour. Thanks to her constant communication with her

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sisters in Sudan, Uganda, South Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia, Somaliland, Eritrea, and Ethiopia, more WKDQ JUDVVURRWV ZRPHQ·V JURXSV KDYH FRPH together to form a solidarity network. This network will expand the circle of advocacy and awareness in the Greater Horn of Africa region. Siha is worried, sad, and anxious about the plight of migrant women and girls who must leave their homelands because of the devastating effects of ZDU DQG DUPHG FRQÁLFW :DU DQG DUPHG FRQÁLFW VWRS the cycle of production, cause massive economic deterioration, and make life almost impossible. Many people are forced to leave their homelands but, for women, the torment continues once they have crossed the border. Women are often subjected to extortion and sexual harassment by WKH PDÀD VPXJJOLQJ JDQJV DQG ERUGHU JXDUGV 6LKD

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KDV ZRUNHG KDUG WR UDLVH DZDUHQHVV DERXW PLJUDQW ZRPHQ·V LVVXHV DQG has designed programs that empower advocacy and capacity development for migrant women and girls. 6LKD LV VWLOO ZRUNLQJ WR VXSSRUW ZRPHQ·V DFFHVV WR MXVWLFH HQVXUH WKHLU right to stand before all courts without discrimination, and provide legal support and lawyers during litigation processes. SIHA also connects women and girls to psychosocial support, especially if they have experienced trauma from gender-based violence, harmful customs/ traditions, and misogynistic norms or are in police custody. Siha relies on statistical studies and reports on the status of women working as food and drinks vendors, domestic workers, cleaners, and factories workers in the marginalized sectors of urban areas in Sudan, 8JDQGD DQG 6RPDOLODQG ,Q OLJKW RI WKH ÀQGLQJV RI WKH YDULRXV UHSRUWV strategic programs have been designed to support poor women and improve their capabilities and awareness of their human, political, legal, and economic rights. Siha has worked to allocate places for displaying the

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ZRPHQ·V SURGXFWV LQ OLQH ZLWK JRRG KHDOWK VSHFLÀFDWLRQV DQG WR SUHVHUYH WKH ZRPHQ·V GLJQLW\ E\ VWRSSLQJ DOO LQKXPDQH DQG H[WUDMXGLFLDO IRUPV RI punishment, especially corporal punishment, kasha raids, extortion, and FRQÀVFDWLRQ RI YHQGRU SURSHUW\ 6LKD KDV DOVR ZRUNHG WR VXSSRUW DQG urge women working in sales and business to organize themselves into professional associations and unions to collectively defend their rights. :LWK KHU EROG VSLULW 6LKD FRQVWDQWO\ VWULYHV WR GR PRUH %\ SXEOLVKLQJ UHVHDUFK WKDW KLJKOLJKWV ZRPHQ·V DQG JHQGHU LVVXHV DV ZHOO DV RWKHU related social, cultural, legal, and religious issues, Siha has set up an institution that focuses on African, feminist knowledge-building and VKDULQJ ,W LV VWULNLQJ WR VHH \RXQJ SHRSOH RI DOO JHQGHUV UHDGLQJ 6LKD·V papers, booklets, magazines, and other publications in universities, libraries, and cafes the world over. 'HVSLWH DOO RI 6LKD·V WUHPHQGRXV DFKLHYHPHQWV WKHUH DUH VWLOO PDQ\ VRFLDO and political barriers that stand in the way of achieving gender equality and social justice. Nonetheless, Siha remains committed to her vision

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of a world that embraces a comprehensive feminist reality for women and girls of various backgrounds and no longer clings to discriminatory stereotypes and outdated ideas. Through mutual support, solidarity, and taking ownership of the struggle for change, the feminist movements LQ WKH *UHDWHU +RUQ RI $IULFD FDQ DFKLHYH 6LKD·V YLVLRQ 7KLV LV HYLGHQW in the crucial role Siha played in advocating and supporting Sudanese women during the great December revolution of 2019.

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Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa