A young Somali woman receives the „International Women of Courage Award“ for her courageous battle.

I hope this international award will protect this young woman. Women like her who fight against this cruel patriarchy are unfortunately very threatened.

Farhiyo Ibrahim Farah is one of ten laureates of the “International Women of Courage Awards”.

The 25-year-old is being honoured for her work at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya. She works there as a social worker, is particularly active working against arranged marriages and female genital mutilation, campaigning for better protection and treatment of rape victims, as well as fighting for more education and self-determination for our Somali sisters.

Due to travel restrictions imposed by the Kenyan government on the 160.000 refugees living here, this camp is a place of isolation on the border to Somalia. The majority of the people here fled from Somalia.

This is why Farhiyo talks about her immense opposition inside the camp, about stones and clouts, about slander and death threats. Her important work is dangerous, especially in the traditional patriarchal clan-system.

I admire this young woman and wish her all the strength in the world to carry on with her mission!

Source: UNHCR