- +25290 776 7636
- info@puwla.org
About Us
PUNTLAND WOMEN LAWYERS ASSOCIATION (PUWLA) is a non-profit, and nongovernmental organization based and operating in Puntlandand registered on APRIL 2013 with Puntland ministry of justice (Reg .NO 816/2013). The founding members recognized the great need for creating an association of women lawyers to offer support for women lawyers and harness their professional skills into a force for educating the society about their legal rights. PUWLA does this by advocating for legal reforms and providing legal aid to women, children and vulnerable groups. PUWLA is a pioneer association of women lawyers in Puntland and Somalia at large
Our Vision
PUWLA envisions a society where the rights of women, children and vulnerable groups are respected and the rule of law is adhered to.
Our Mission
The mission of PUWLA is to promote the full participation of women lawyers in the legal profession by advocating principle of fairness and equality, improve the status women in our society by assisting them to excise their equal right and participation in public affairs.
Objectives
The mission of PUWLA is to promote the full participation of women lawyers in the legal profession by advocating principle of fairness and equality, improve the status women in our society by assisting them to excise their equal right and participation in public affairs.
- To improve and strengthen accessibility of justice for women and equality under the law
- To promote the participation and the role of women in the development and decision making processes of Puntland society
- To contribute to the promotion and the strengthening of rule law in Puntland
- To provide professional support and assistance to all disadvantaged groups including children women refugees minorities and disabled persons
- To promote public education and awareness of rights of women and all gender mainstreaming
- To identify highlight and combat discriminatory practices and habits against women in the legal system and the community in general.
- To promote gender balance at all levels of all Puntland institutions
- To establish a framework for liaison and co-operation with international women lawyers organization national and international bar associations and any professional organization representing lawyers having similar objectives to those of PUWLA
Programs
To advance our objectives PUWLA conducts the following programmers:
- Legal aid and professional development program –focused is on providing legal services to economically deprived individuals (women survivors of GBV, children, old people ,PWDs and minorities)
- Providing internship to senior female lawyers and graduates
- Raise awareness among key justice sector stakeholders on women’s access to justice women’s legal rights under Islam and the Constitution of Puntland.
- Human right program –program human rights approaches by mobilizing communities with special focus on GBV issues and provide legal support to victims of violence.
- Advocacy program –embedded in all activities of PUWLAmain advocacy focus is twofold ,mobilizing key stakeholders in the justice sector for judicial reform and mobilizing communities on the issues of on women rights under Islam and women access to justice and legal empowerment
Under these programmers include:
- Holding conferences seminars, training, workshops producing newsletters pamphlets and using all forms of media mass media for the purpose of
- Improving the accessibility of justice to woman
- To educate the public about the right of women and.
- Influencing decision –makers to adopt women friendly policies and legislations.
- Co-operating and working with law enforcement organs including judiciary, police, prisons and child correctional facilities as well as all other states institution for the purpose of
- advancing the interest of women of legal profession
- seeking and facilitating training internship and apprenticeship opportunities for newly graduated women from law schools
- lobbying and advocating for woman lawyers to be hired as professionals by the judiciary and other justice organs to achieve gender balance
- Providing legal assistance and service to disadvantaged groups such as women (especially those from the poorer sections of the society and victims of gender based violence) children minority groups refugees IDPs and people with disability.
- Researching and critically reviewing legislations as they related to the interest of women and vulnerable groups.
- Documenting and campaigning against human rights violations especially those against women and children