United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

The UNODC Regional Office in East Africa (ROEA)

Female Prisoners Gain Skills through UNODC Vocational Training.

Gabiley, (Somaliland) 18 May 2023: Incarceration is a challenging experience for anyone, perhaps more so for women in developing countries, where they may have been experiencing a significant personal burden even prior to entering the corrections system. 

Working to transform some of the challenges of incarceration into opportunities was one of the aims of the Joint Rule of Law Programme (JROLP) for Somaliland, an initiative funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden that started in January 2020 and concluded in December 2022. Building on the successes of earlier programming, in 2020 and 2023, JROLP sought to extend a range of improvements in judicial and law enforcement capabilities to ‘difficult to reach’ rural areas as well as to promote access to justice and enhance the rights of specific, vulnerable, and disadvantaged groups. As an implementing partner in the programme, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC GMCP) worked toward the programme’s goals through the implementation of a vocational training programme for female inmates at Gabiley Prison in Hargeisa from October 2020 to December 2022.

“I liked the idea of contributing to the rehabilitation of women in my community through my work at the prison”, said Sadiyo Abdi, an expert in tailoring who has taught courses at Gabiley Technical College, since 2020. She was originally contracted by UNODC to offer tailoring classes at Gabiley Prison following a research analysis of marketable skills for women in Somaliland. Although her initial contract lasted three months, she voluntarily extended her services, and after six months, many of the prisoners were proficiently skilled. Furthermore, Sadiyo's colleague, who works as an instructor at the local technical college, also volunteered to help with the classes. This initiative was conducted in alignment with the Nelson Mandela Rules, which emphasizes rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners through vocational training and other educational programmes. 

Sadiyo provided tailoring classes to female prisoners, enabling them to learn new skills and enhance their creativity whilst serving time. The classes taught prisoners how to use sewing machines, cut fabric, and create different types of clothing. The course allowed prisoners to practice their skills and receive feedback from the instructor, making the learning experience more effective and giving prisoners a constructive path during their incarceration. Medina, an inmate, expressed her gratitude for the programme. “Learning a new skill also boosted my self-esteem and confidence, making me feel more positive about my future”. Additionally, the classes fostered a sense of community and connection among prisoners as they worked together to complete sewing projects.

In his own words, Nelson Mandela (1994) stated, “Prison is itself a tremendous education in the need for patience and perseverance. It is, above all, a test of one’s commitment”. Female prisoners in Gabiley embraced this spirit in supporting a May 18 parade, with prisoners helping make clothes for the event. Preparations took weeks, and armed forces personnel from all branches participated. Salma, an inmate, was delighted to showcase her skills during the celebrations. She said, “Spending the morning hours in the vocational centre with the other women was the highlight of my day. I never thought that they would be asked to take part in sewing any uniforms, but I was delighted”. The celebrations served as a reminder that prisoners can contribute positively to society if given the opportunity.Prison commander, Khalid Hussein, expressed his happiness and pride in the progress made by prisoners, stating, "The prisoners have come a long way in a short time. I never doubted their skills. I knew they would make us proud, and they did."

The community-centred approach involved hiring local women who better understand cultural and social dynamics within the area. These women are trained to work with female prisoners and provide them with the necessary support. Sadiyo stated,"Many of the women I worked with in the prison have had hard lives and very few opportunities. Some did not have a basic education. The social pressures for women prisoners in our society can be great. In my experience, it seems to be the most vulnerable women in our societies who end up in institutions like Gabiley prison”. Hiring local women has helped bridge the gap between prisoners and the community and led to a more positive environment for female prisoners. “Empowering these women with the skills they need to earn an honest living is crucial if we are going to break the cycle of them re-offending”, said Sadiyo.

Providing female inmates with vocational training and an opportunity to acquire skills that can help them reintegrate into society upon their release contributes directly to UNODC’s emphasis on supporting SDG 5 on gender equality. The training helped break gender stereotypes within Somali society on employment for women outside the home while also offering female inmates a higher chance of finding employment upon release and significantly reducing their likelihood of reoffending.

For more information, please contact:

Mr. David O’Connell David.OConnell@un.org  

Western Indian Ocean Programme Coordinator

Global Maritime Crime Programme

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Click here to visit the UNODC Global Maritime Crime Programme website.

Maxaabiista haweenka oo waxbarashada farsamada aye UNODC hirgalise xirfada cusub ku bartay.

Gabiley, (Somaliland) 18 May 2023: Maxaabiisnimada waa caqabad weyn,saamayn ku yeelanayso qofka, lakiin waxaana caqabaddan aad usii dareemayo haweenka ku xiddan xabsiyada wadamada aana wili hor-umargaarin. Haweenkan waliba badankood waxay ku noolayeen nolol adag ka hor inta aan xabsiga la dhigin. 

Barnaamijka layidhahdo Joint rule of law (JROL) ee Somaliland laga hiirgaliye waxa uu ka shaqeeyay in qaar ka mid ah caqabadaha xabsiga loo beddelo fursado. Barnaamijkan waxaa maalgaliye Midowga Yurub iyo dawladda Sweden waxuuna bilaabmay January 2020 soona afjaray December 2022. Iyada oo lagu dhisayo guulihii barnaamijyadii hore, 2020 iyo 2023,  Hayaadahaa ku wadaagay barnaamijkan JROL waxa ay rabeen in ay horumarro kala duwan oo xagga garsoorka iyo awoodaha dhinaca fulinta sharciga in ay gaadhsiiyaan meelaha intabadaan  ay adag tahay in la gaaro sida bulshooyinka reer miyiga ah oo ku sugan degaanada reer xoola dhaqameedka ama beeraleeyga. Barnaamijku wuxuu higsanayaa in uu horumariyo helitaanka caddaaladda iyo kor u qaadida xuquuqda kooxaha gaarka ah, sida maxaabista ah nugul, iyo kuwa danyarta. Xafiiska Qaramada Midoobay u qaabilsan ka hortaga daroogada iyo dambiyada, Global Maritime Crime Programme (UNODC GMCP) oo ka mid ah ha’ayadaha loo xilsaaray fulinta barnamijka waxay so bandhigeen tababarka farsamada gacanta maxaabiista haweenka ee xabsiga Gabiley laga bilaabay Oktoobar 2020 ilaa December 2022.

“Waxaan aad ugu farxay in aan gacan ka geysto baxnaaninta haweenka deegaankayga ku xidhan," ayay tiri Sadiyo Abdi, oo ah khabiir ku takhasusay dawaarka, koorasyadana u dhigto kulliyadda farsamada ee Gabiley, tan iyo 2020. Waxay markii hore qandaraas ku siisay hay’adda UNODC in ay xabsiga Gabiley ku bixiso fasallo dawaarka ah ka dib markii ay cilmi-baadhis lagu samayay xirfadda suuqa ee haweenka Somaliland. In kasta oo qandaraaskeedii ugu horreeyay uu socday saddex bilood, haddana waxay si mutadawacnimo ah u kordhisay adeeggeeda, lix bilood ka dib, qaar badan oo maxaabiista ka mid ah waxay ahaayeen kuwo xirfad leh. Intaa waxaa dheer, Sadiyo inan aye wadashaqeeyaan, oo iyadana macallimad ka ah kulliyadda farsamada ee deegaanka, ayaa iyaduna si mutadawacnimo ah isugu xilqaantay inay ka caawiso casharrada. Dadaalkan waxa loo qabtay si waafaqsan Xeerarka Nelson Mandela, kaas oo xoogga saaraya baxnaanintu iyo dib u soo celinta maxaabiista iyada oo loo marayo tababar xirfadeed iyo barnaamijyo kale oo waxbarasho.

Sadiyo ayaa maxaabiista dumarka ah siisay casharo tolista, taasoo u sahlaysa inay bartaan xirfado cusub waxayna siisay fursad ay ku adeegsadaan hal abuurkooda inta ay xabsiga ku jiraan. Ardayda fasaladeeda waxay barteen sida loo isticmaalo mashiinnada harqaanka, jarista dharka, iyo samaynta noocyada kala duwan ee dharka. Koorsadu waxuu ku fiicnaa fursat aye ardayda heleen oo aye xirfaday barteen tababar ku qaataan oo ay jawaab-celin ka helaan macalinka, taasoo ka dhigaysa wax-barashada mid wax ku ool ah oo tusinaysa maxaabiista waddo aye mustaqbalkooda ku dhisi karaan inta ay xabsiga ku jiraan.

Madiina oo ah maxbuus ayaa ka mahadcelisay barnaamijka. "Barashada xirfad cusub waxay sidoo kale kor u qaaday kalsoonida nafteyda aan ka helay, waxay iga dhigtay inaan dareemo inaan heli karo mustaqbal wanaagsan". Intaa waxa dheer, fasaladu waxay keeneen dareenka shaqawadaaga wanaagsan iyo isku xidhka maxaabiista ka wada shaqeeyay dhamaystirka xiisadaha tolida.

Nelson Mandela waxa uu yidhi (1994) “Xabsigu waa waxbarasho heersare ah oo aadku baraynayso dulqaadka iyo adkaysiga waxasoo dhane waxaa ka horeeyo in ay tahay imtixaan ka go'naanka qofka." Hablaha maxaabiista ah ee ku xidhan Gabiley ayaa figradaa iyo dareenkaa Mandela ku taageeray dhoolatuska 18-ka May, iyadoo maxaabiistu ay gacan ka qeybgaleen samaynta dharka munaasibadda.

Waxay tidhi, “In aan saacadaha subaxdii la joogo xarunta farsamada gacanta dumarka kale waxay ahayd waqtiga aan ugu xisayno malintaas oo dhan. Waligay kuma fikirin in la waydiin doono inaan ka qayb qaadano tolista direyska, laakiin waan ku farxay”. Dabaaldegga ayaa ahaa xusuusin in maxaabiistu ay si wanaagsan wax ugu soo kordhin karaan bulshada haddii fursadda la siiyo. Taliyaha Ciidanka Asluubta Xabsiga Gabilay Khaalid Xuseen, ayaa muujiyay sida uu ugu faraxsan yahay, isla markaana uu ugu hanwayn yahay horumarka ay sameeyeen maxaabiista, waxaanu yidhi, “Maxaabiista muddo yar gudaheed ayay jid dheer soo mareen, lakiin kalsooni baan kulahaa hawlqabkooda iyo xirfaddooda, inagana sharaf bay inoo ahayd inay ka qaybgalaan. "

Waxaa muhiim noo ahayd in aan caawinaad ka helno bulshada deegaanka, waana sababta aan u shaqaaleysiinnay haweenka deegaanka oo si fiican u fahmaya dhaqanka iyo baahiyaha deegaanka. Haweenkan ayaa loo tababaray inay la shaqeeyaan haweenka maxaabiista ah oo ay siiyaan taageerada lagama maarmaanka ah. Sadiyo ayaa tiri, "Haween badan oo aan xabsiga kala soo shaqeeyay waxay ku noolaayeen nolol adag iyo fursado aad u yar, qaarkood ma aysan helin waxbarasho aasaasi ah, cadaadiska bulshada ee haweenka maxaabiista ah ee bulshadeena ayaa noqon kara mid weyn, waayo-aragnimadayda, waxay u muuqataa in inay noqdaan haweenka ugu nugul bulshadeena ee ku dambeeya xabsiga. Shaqaalaysiinta haweenka deegaanka waxay gacan ka geysatey in la soo afjaro farqiga u dhexeeya maxaabiista iyo bulshada waxayna u horseeday jawi wanaagsan oo haweenka maxaabiista ah "Xoojinta waxbarashada haweenka waa muhiim si ay u helaan nolol daacad mana dacaci karno haddii aan doonayno inaan ka hortagno xabsi cadaysiga iyo soo xabsi noqoshada”, ayay tiri Sadiyo.

In maxaabiista dumarka ah la siiyo tababar xirfadeed iyo fursad ay ku helaan waxbarashada farsamada waxay ka caawin karta inay dib ugu soo biiraan bulshada marka la sii daayo waxayna si toos ah uga qayb qaadanaysaa xoojinta UNODC ee taageerada SDG 5 ee sinnaanta jinsiga. Tababarku waxa uu ka caawiyay in la jebiyo fikradda jinsiga ah ee bulshada Soomaaliyeed dhexdeeda ee ku saabsan shaqaalaynta haweenka guriga ka baxsan iyada oo sidoo kale la siinayo haweenka maxaabiista ah fursad sare oo ay shaqo ku heli karaan marka la sii daayo waxayna si weyn u yaraynaysaa suurtagalnimada in dib loo gafo.

Wixii macluumaad dheeraad ah, fadlan la xiriir:

Mr. David O’Connell David.OConnell@un.org  

Western Indian Ocean Programme Coordinator

Global Maritime Crime Programme

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

Riix halkan si aad u booqato websaydka barnaamijka dambiyada badaha caalamiga ah ee UNODC.