Wednesday December 11, 2024
Senior Somali police officials, including Deputy Police Commander Brigadier General Osman Abdullahi Mohamed (Kanif) and Hamar Jajab Police Commander Rahma Sandheer, cut the ribbon during the inauguration ceremony of Somalia's first women-only prison in Mogadishu's Hamar Jajab district.
Mogadishu (HOL) — Somalia has opened its first women-only prison in Mogadishu, a groundbreaking step in justice reform aimed at addressing gender disparities in detention and safeguarding the rights of female detainees.
The facility, located in the Hamar Jajab district, is equipped to house women charged with offences such as domestic violence, homicide, and drug-related crimes. As Somalia’s first women-specific detention center, it ensures detainees receive humane treatment and gender-sensitive care, addressing long-standing gaps in the justice system.
Deputy Police Commander Brigadier General Osman Abdullahi Mohamed (Kanif) inaugurated the prison during a ceremony attended by senior police and government officials. He described the facility as a major step in delivering professional and gender-sensitive policing services, marking a new chapter for Somalia’s law enforcement.
The ceremony also included remarks by Hamar Jajab Police Commander Rahma Sandheer, who spearheaded the initiative. Sandheer emphasized the facility’s importance in building public trust in security forces, noting that humane detention practices can strengthen community relationships and support justice reform. She added that authorities envision the facility as a blueprint for future reforms to create a more equitable and humane approach to detention nationwide.