Public outcry as Somalia Information Ministry's advert seen as insult on women

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Public outcry as Somalia Information Ministry's advert seen as insult on women

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) A job advert by Somalia Information Ministry on Friday enticed a public outcry after the advert contained a criteria regarded as insult and discrimination against Somali women journalists seeking employment in the state med

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Minister of Information, Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareye. (Photo/file)

MOGADISHU (Horn Observer) A job advert by Somalia Information Ministry on Friday enticed a public outcry after the advert contained a criteria regarded as insult and discrimination against Somali women journalists seeking employment in the state media.

While any employment advert does not contain conditions for men, it was on the astonishment to many that Somali National Television (SNTV) put age limit, height, body weight and appearance as requirement for any woman applying for two new TV positions.

"SNTV is seeking to recruit two new women journalists who have media skills," the advert signed by the TV director said "Conditions required include to have a university degree; not to be older than 25-years of age; to have a TV standard body weight, height and appearance."

The advert added two new requirements as conditions for the women applicants: "She must have good media voice and a good eye-catching appearance"

it was not long after Somalis on the social media, including former journalists and activists reacted the job advert with rejection.

Former Minister of Planning, Abdirahman Aynte who worked as a journalist for Al-Jazeera, BBC and the Voice of America radio has condemned the words used in the advert and called the Ministry of Information to retract its advert. He also demanded apology to the Somali women journalists.

"Besides this discrimination, it is against the fundamental principles of our constitution, and is a serious violation of Islamic religion and Somali culture."

"I've been a journalist and an editor at some of the world's international media for more than 12 years. I've never seen such a discriminatory practice, insults and misconduct greater than this!”

"While it is good to create new jobs for the Somali women, it is unacceptable that we have such conditions as a requirement for our women to be employed in one of the important ministries of this country," said Ahmed Mohamud, a Mogadishu-based human rights lawyer.

Somalia's Minister of Information, Mohamed Abdi Hayir Mareeye later confirmed that the letter has been erroneously written and has now been corrected..

See both letters below.