UNDP has supported the establishment of the Women's Lawyers Association in Somaliland (SWLA) which opened early in 2008. The Association is not only the first female lawyers association in Somaliland, but in all of Somalia.

This is an extremely important step, both in terms of assisting female lawyers in their professional career and in providing appropriate and gender-sensitive legal advice to women in Somaliland.

There are currently five female members of the SWLA with a further 17 women set to graduate from the University of Hargeisa's law faculty in September this year, bringing membership up to 22. UNDP has provided grants for women to attend Hargeisa law faculty since 2004. Last year, it saw the first four women graduate from the faculty, increasing the number of female lawyers in Somaliland from one to five.

The sole practicing female lawyer in Somaliland until last year was Ifra Aden Omar, who heads the SWLA. Ifra is also the Director of the Women and Children's Unit at the Hargeisa legal aid clinic that was itself established with UNDP's help in 2003. In 2007, UNDP provided funding to hire a second female lawyer to assist Ifra in providing free legal aid services to women and juvenile cases. The most common cases Ifra handles are rape, domestic violence, divorce, child custody, child maintenance and inheritance.

Judiciary project manager, Antonia Mulvey, says the SWLA faces an uphill battle in becoming established.

'It will take time for the male-dominated legal profession to understand and accept the importance of women lawyers in society.

'UNDP is providing assistance to create awareness and the means to run the association in terms of equipment, technical and financial support as well as legal training and establishing links with female lawyers outside Somaliland.'

Currently, there are no prosecutors or judges in Somaliland. UNDP is in discussion with the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General's office to identify methods and support newly graduate women to practice as either prosecutors or trainee judges/registrars.

Aims of the SWLA

1. Provide a professional and social network for women lawyers

2. Promote the wider participation of women in development

3. Encourage greater participation of women lawyers in developing potential of their role within Somaliland

4. Promote continuing education and legal awareness for women

5. Advocate for the interests of women in the legal profession

6. Achieve justice and equality for all women

7. Achieve and equality for all disadvantaged groups

8. Promote equal opportunities

9. Create and enhance awareness of women's contribution to the development of the law

10. Provide free legal aid for women and children in Somaliland

Source: United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)