Mayor John F. Street of City of Philadelphia, presented to Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi a model of Liberty Bell
Recognition of Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi as a leaders and advocate of peace and women’s rights and equality
On October 11, 2006,
Mayor John F. Street of
City of Philadelphia, presented to Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi
a model of Liberty Bell as the City’s token of “brotherly love” honoring Mrs. Elmi’s dedication and commitment to women’s rights and equality. In addition, the Mayor presented to Mrs. Elmi the City of Philadelphia Proclamation Document with the seal of the City and proclaimed
in her honor October 9 through October 13, 2006 as the
2006 Peace and Justice Week in Philadelphia, and urged all citizens to recognize and uphold women’s advocacy and gender equality in the city, the commonwealth, the nation, and the world.
Mayor John F. Street, stated in the City of Philadelphia Proclamation Document that Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi has distinguished herself worldwide as the voice of peace and justice. For more than a decade, she has dedicated herself to empowering Somali women in her homeland, encouraging them to exercise their rights through peace negotiation and political engagement.
In addition to Philadelphia, Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi has participated presentations and discussions on women issues while in Madison-Wisconsin, Washington DC, Fairfax-Virginia, and New York. In Virginia, she met with fellow Somali women leaders and advocates. She talked to them about the plight of Somali women and her recent visit to Mogadishu-Somalia before her trip to the United States. She encouraged all Somali women and in particular the Somali women in the Washington D.C Metro Area to continue their effort and to spearhead the fight for justice and equality for Somali women and children. The Washington D.C Metro Area Somali women shared with Asha their activities including the most recent fundraising sponsored by them on behalf of a Somali women organization called Women Pioneers for Peace and Life (HINNA).
Mrs. Asha Haji Elmi is the founder of Save Somali Women and Children (SSWC). SSWC is dedicated to helping and improving the lives of ordinary Somali women and children. Also, Mrs. Elmi is long time advocate of Somali women’s rights and equality through activism, education, and empowerment of women. In order to advance the role of women in Somali politics, Mrs. Elmi organized the Sixth Clan - bringing Somali women across clan lines to give them a voice in the men dominated Somali politics. Mrs. Elmi, is also a member of the Somali Parliament. In addition, she is active participant of Somali politics and civil society.
Over the years, Mrs. Elmi has participated and chaired many conferences, seminars, and workshops around the world on behalf of Somali women. In January 2004, she was the only woman to co-chair the final phase of the Somali National Reconciliation Conference and the first woman to sign the peace accord. She received many awards and was nominated for the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize.
Contact:
Najma - [email protected]