In 2025, men in Somalia received training on promoting women’s rights in the workplace, journalists and policymakers were trained in peace journalism, and the country’s first sign language news broadcasts began.
Somalia has been in the midst of a civil war for over 36 years. Millions of people have died in the war, millions have been forced to flee their homeland to various parts of the world, and many continue to live as internally displaced persons. Over the past decade, however, Somalia has taken significant steps toward peace and social development.
In Somalia, it has been recognized that peace and equality go hand in hand. Today, Mogadishu, with a population of nearly four million, is enjoying a relatively peaceful atmosphere for the first time in decades. For over a decade, Vikes has been engaged in long-term work in Somalia to strengthen freedom of speech, quality journalism, journalists’ rights, and human rights. The goal has been to ensure that citizens receive reliable information and that the media can serve as a force for peace and democracy.
Peace journalism lays the groundwork for public debate
By 2025, one of Vikes’s most significant achievements in Somalia has been the strengthening of peace journalism. Peace journalism is based on the idea of using journalistic methods to give a voice to groups that are often marginalized, such as disabled people, minority clans, women, and young people. Participatory journalism can reduce tensions, conflicts, and the cycle of revenge between clans, as well as strengthen social dialogue.
Throughout the year, training sessions were held to promote gender-equal media production, inclusion, and high-quality journalism. A total of 228 journalists, media students, and media executives participated in these sessions. Of the participants, 91 were women and 137 were men.
Vikes and CAFIS also organized public television debates in Somalia, similar to those on YLE’s A-teema. In these talk shows and TV debates, women, young people, politicians, clan leaders, representatives of minority clans, and disabled people gathered to discuss socially significant topics, inter-clan conflicts, politics, climate change, circumcision, gender equality, and human rights. The content produced during the program garnered a total of 3.1 million views on TV and social media.
In addition, local journalists received hands-on training in brainstorming, scriptwriting, hosting, and production. The goal of the training was to enable the journalists to continue producing talk shows independently even after the project ends. This work was historic in Somalia, where an open and inclusive culture of discussion has long been limited.
As part of the work in peace journalism, advocacy efforts were also carried out. A total of 40 people—16 women and 24 men—participated in the collaboration with government agencies. Four of the participants were people with disabilities.
Vikes involves men in the prevention of harassment against women
Sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination are widespread in Somalia and have a significant impact on women’s ability to participate in the workforce and advance in their careers. For this reason, considerable efforts were made in Somalia over the course of the year to prevent sexual harassment against women.
In the workplace, women face issues such as inappropriate physical touch, suggestive comments, the abuse of power regarding pay and promotions, as well as emotional abuse and sexual harassment. Harassment occurs, for example, in schools, hospitals, media organizations, and government agencies. Social taboos, fear of stigmatization, and a lack of safe reporting mechanisms prevent many women from speaking openly about their experiences.
One of the most significant achievements of Vikes’ work has been engaging men in gender equality efforts. In 2025, training sessions aimed at men were organized in Somalia, attended by 32 media executives. The training sessions focused on how to prevent sexual harassment and how to strengthen gender equality between men and women in the media sector and in the broader workforce. Involving men in training programs has been a significant step toward cultural change in Somalia.
Vikes helped launch Somalia's first sign language news program
In collaboration with Somalia National TV, Vikes launched the country’s first-ever sign language news broadcasts. This was a historic breakthrough in a country where disabled people have long been virtually invisible in the media and in public discourse.
One of the highlights of the year was Somalia’s annual Day of Forgiveness, which focused on disability. Two soccer matches were held in honor of the day. The first match featured players who had been disabled in the war. The second match featured Somali soccer legends. The match day brought together people from different backgrounds and communities, highlighting that peacebuilding is not just about resolving conflicts but also about breaking down barriers between people.
In addition, Vikes has included journalists with disabilities in all of its training sessions in Somalia and has organized workshops addressing the rights of disabled people and the challenges they face in daily life. The goal of the workshops was to raise awareness and promote a shift in attitudes toward a more accepting and inclusive society. Of the people who participated in the training sessions and workshops throughout the year, 30 had disabilities, including 9 women and 21 men.
Efforts to promote the inclusion of disabled people has encouraged their equal participation in education, the workforce, and public discourse. All activities highlight the fact that a person with a disability can work as a reporter, producer, host, or writer just like anyone else. In Somalia, where people with disabilities have often been excluded from society, this work has been a long-awaited step toward a more equitable society.
Text: Wali Hashi
