Battling Gender Based Violence in Somalia: The Need for Qualified Community Social Workers and Psycho-trauma Counsellors

Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence of gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia, a scourge which has silently consumed the social fabric of the Somali society and Somali women in particular. The study argues for the need to train and recruit professional community social workers and psycho-trauma counsellors to assist survivors of the GBV menace. Methodology: The study conducted a systematic review of select secondary sources on GBV which included reports, book chapters, journal articles and books. These sources were clustered into three main thematic areas: (1) Prevalence of GBV in the Somali society; (2) The cultural burden on GBV survivors; and (3) The need for qualified community social workers and psycho-trauma counsellors to combat GBV. Results: The findings show the social contexts in which GBV occurs, how cultural practices impede GBV interventions, and the need to deploy qualified community social workers and psycho-social counsellors to provide psycho-social support to GBV victims and implement GBV interventions across country. Conclusion: Gender-based violence is national problem which requires a multisectoral approach to combat. State and non-stake actors, religious organizations, non-governmental organizations and the international community need to develop joint interventions to battle GBV in Somalia. There is need for a national GBV policy legislation and effective enforcement of the ensuing laws in order to address the GBV scourge in Somalia.