Mogadishu, Somalia — The Somali Media Women Association (SOMWA) and Hiil Law Firm have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a new strategic partnership to strengthen legal protection, empower women journalists, and advance gender equality in the media sector across Somalia. The signing took place yesterday in Mogadishu.
This partnership comes at a critical moment. In its recently released State of Women’s Press Freedom 2025 report, SOMWA documented a marked escalation in harassment and violence against women journalists, recording the highest levels of assault, detention, and intimidation on record.
Between November 2024 and October 2025, SOMWA verified more than 60 violations affecting journalists—including arbitrary arrests, physical attacks, workplace discrimination, and intimidation—while 30 additional cases of digital censorship specifically targeted women media practitioners through account suspensions, takedowns, and coordinated reporting attacks. The report underscores the dangerous and silencing environment women journalists are navigating, both offline and online.
Against this backdrop, the MoU with Hiil Law Firm represents a practical and urgently needed intervention aimed at addressing the growing risks and legal vulnerabilities that women journalists face in the course of their work.
Under the agreement, Hiil Law Firm will:
- Provide legal representation for SOMWA members facing arrest, detention, or legal threats linked to journalistic activity
- Lead legal literacy and media law training to strengthen knowledge of rights, labour protections, and due process.
- Support documentation and legal follow-up for cases involving harassment, gender-based violence, or rights violations
- Collaborate with SOMWA in policy advocacy, including the push for reforms to the Media Law (2020) and enforcement of the Labour Code (2025).
SOMWA will:
- Identify and support women journalists in need of legal assistance
- Coordinate training workshops and media outreach
- Expand awareness of legal rights and safety frameworks among women in newsrooms and the field
- Use evidence from cases to strengthen national advocacy and push for systemic legal reform.
“This partnership is timely and vital,” said Maryam Seylac, Executive Director of SOMWA.
“Women journalists are being threatened, harassed, censored, and in some cases violently attacked for simply doing their jobs. When those who target women in the media face no consequences, impunity becomes institutionalised. This MoU ensures that Somali women journalists are no longer standing alone when their rights are violated.”
Hiil Law Firm emphasised its commitment to defending press freedom and ensuring equal access to justice.
“Journalists play a critical role in public accountability and democratic participation,” said Iman Abdikarin, CEO of Hiil Law Firm.
“It is unacceptable that women in this profession face intimidation or violence for fulfilling their societal role. Our law firm is proud to partner with SOMWA to protect their rights and strengthen legal safeguards.”
The MoU is valid for one year and includes coordinated implementation of legal support services, workshops, legal aid referrals, and collaborative advocacy campaigns.
SOMWA notes that lasting progress requires systemic change. Along with legal representation, the organisation continues to advocate for:
- Reform of restrictive media laws
- Enforcement of anti-discrimination protections in the workplace
- Stronger accountability and prosecution for violence against journalists
- Digital safety protections for women targeted through online harassment
This agreement marks an important step toward building a safer, fairer, and more equitable media environment in which Somali women journalists can report freely, independently, and without fear.
