Mama rukia; disrupting gender stereotypes to defend women’s rights

By Mohamed Maalim It’s about 10 am in the morning and 48-year-old Rukia Ali, Mama Rukia as she is fondly called by friends and family prepares breakfast as she narrates her horrifying ordeal

of fleeing ethnic clashes in Somalia, to get to Kenya. It’s two decades later but the memories of the past are permanently etched in her heart given the loss she experienced, “I lost two of

my siblings in the violence in Somalia. I have another two who were injured but survived. We knew we had no choice but to flee”, she says. “I arrived in Dadaab refugee camp in 1993, after

four long and terrifying days and nights of traveling from Somalia”. Today, Rukia is a revered elected leader in Ifo Camp where in her role she supports Community Protection interventions.

Her role as a woman leader gives her the opportunity to work with the youth groups on the Prevention and Response to Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV), peace building and conflict

resolution. “Understanding the challenges women have made me Championing the rights of women and to challenge the stereotypes placed on women by the society that we cannot even discuss

issues that affect us”, she remarks As an elected leader, Rukia works with Child Protection Partners to in the protection of vulnerable refugee children, she also monitors food distribution

and helps allocate shelter and other non-food items to refugee families. During the COVID-19 outbreak in the refugee camp, Rukia was on the frontline to support the initiatives of the

community response of producing soaps for safe handwashing. She also works with 220 block leaders and 18 section leaders. “My mum is a strong and courageous woman full of love and drive to

fight for human rights. Sometimes, I can’t help but, fear for her safety. She is quite a vocal leader, and by that you develop enemies”, he says with a deep concern. “During my tenure, I

have interacted and worked with two UNHCR Commissioners and I always strive to voice to challenges being faced by refugees in the camps. I was entrusted with the responsibility to defend

people and improve lives and that’s what I’ll do”, she says. All in all, I dream of a peaceful and stable Somalia and a world free from Coronavirus.” She quips.