Somalia’s House of the People has approved a bill aimed at combating rape and sexual misconduct following recent debates among lawmakers over its provisions.
The bill was approved on Wednesday by members of the 11th Parliament after completing the first, second and third readings required before a vote.
The Speaker of the House of the People, Abdiqadir Mohamed Nur Jama, put the proposed legislation to a vote during a plenary session attended by 140 lawmakers.
According to the results announced by the Speaker, “132 members voted in favour of the bill, three voted against it, while five abstained” .
The approval followed discussions in recent parliamentary sessions, during which lawmakers exchanged views on various provisions of the proposed legislation.
The bill seeks to address rape and sexual misconduct in a country where cases of sexual violence remain a significant concern.
In Somalia, some reported rape cases are handled through the formal judicial system, while others are settled privately between the families of victims and alleged perpetrators, raising concerns about access to justice and accountability.
The parliamentary approval marks a legislative step towards addressing sexual violence and misconduct. Further details on the bill’s provisions and the subsequent steps required for its enactment were not provided in the report.
Mustaqbal
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