First Women Lawyers' Association Opens With UN Help

Posted to the web 25 July 2008 Hargeisa The first women lawyers' association in Somalia has been established in the Somaliland region with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). "It will take time for the male-dominated legal profession to understand and accept the importance of women lawyers in society," Antonia Lulvey, UNDP's judiciary project manager, said. The association, which was created earlier this year, has five members, with a further 17 women set to graduate from the University of Hargeisa in September. The UN agency has provided grants to enable women to attend the law faculty, as well as supplying equipment, training and financial support to the association. The sole practising female lawyer in Somaliland until last year was Ifra Aden Omar, who currently heads the association. With UNDP... [read full story]