The UN has maintained a Rule of Law and Security Programme in Somalia since 1997 in the hope of restoring a peaceful and secure environment for social and economic recovery. One challenge is to help Somalis harmonize judicial approaches to Secular, Sharia and Customary Law and make them inclusive of women. The UN has supported training for serving judges, professors in law, parliamentarians and lawyers. It has also helped to develop legislation and administrative capacity for judicial record keeping and the gathering of statistics.

Community activity outside the Middle Shabelle Court House in Jowhar. Note the separate entrance for women on the right.

(UN Photo 2005) Credit must be given with use.