Establishment of the NASTEEXO Platform for Awareness-Raising to Prevent Gender-Based Violence and Promote Reproductive Health Rights in Somaliland
A Technology-Based Intervention for Changing Attitudes and Raising Awareness on Gender-Based Violence and Reproductive Health Rights
Khadar Iman
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family (MoLSAF).
Republic of Somaliland
Corresponding author: gender.Molsaf@sldgov.org
Abstract
Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) and limited awareness of reproductive health rights (RHR) remain critical public health and social challenges in Somaliland, sustained by cultural taboos, widespread misinformation on social media, and inadequate access to safe spaces and support services. Reported concerns include a very high prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM), early and child marriage, sexual violence, and domestic violence, with survivors facing stigma, victim-blaming, and weak protection mechanisms.
Intervention: In response, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family (MoLSAF), in collaboration with UNICEF and local civil society partners, established the NASTEEXO Platform, a technology-driven awareness-raising and referral initiative. Launched during the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence in November 2024 and fully operationalised in February 2025, the platform combines interactive talk shows, a dedicated hotline with live and prerecorded support, creative educational dramas, secure information channels, and a structured referral system linking survivors to health, legal, and psychosocial services.
Approach: The platform primarily targets students in grades 5–8 through age-appropriate, gender-segregated sessions that respect Somali cultural norms, while live and prerecorded broadcasts extend its reach to survivors, caregivers, and the wider community. Implementation is guided by Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and delivered through partnerships with educators, healthcare providers, law enforcement, and community and religious leaders.
Conclusions: Early programme monitoring suggests improved awareness of GBV and RHR, greater openness of dialogue, and increased uptake of referral services. The NASTEEXO Platform illustrates how culturally adapted digital interventions can help dismantle harmful norms in conservative, low-resource settings and offers a scalable model for comparable contexts in the Global South.
Keywords: gender-based violence; reproductive health rights; Somaliland; digital health intervention; awareness-raising; youth empowerment; referral systems
1. Introduction
1.1. Context and Rationale
Gender-based violence (GBV) and limited awareness of reproductive health rights (RHR) constitute persistent public health and social challenges in Somaliland. Available evidence points to a severe landscape: a 2020 survey conducted by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health Development reported that 98% of women in Somaliland had undergone female genital mutilation (FGM), while police records documented more than 300 cases of rape between 2020 and 2024. Early and child marriage is estimated to affect approximately 45% of girls before the age of 18, driven by socio-economic hardship and entrenched cultural practices that prioritise marriage over education. Studies further indicate that around 35% of women aged 15–49 have experienced physical or sexual violence, yet fewer than 15% seek formal assistance, deterred by stigma, fear of retaliation, and systemic barriers (UNICEF, 2023; Somaliland National Statistics Office, 2022).
These challenges are compounded by an information environment in which non-scientific and unreliable content circulates widely on social media. Misleading narratives about reproductive health and gender equality can normalise harmful behaviour, mislead young audiences, and heighten the vulnerability of minors to exploitation. At the same time, discussions of sexuality and reproductive health remain taboo within many Somali families: parents rarely address bodily autonomy or reproductive health with their children, and opportunities for critical, evidence-based education on these topics are scarce (UNFPA, 2022; Amnesty International, 2021). The result is a generation that frequently comes of age without adequate guidance on preventing violence, asserting rights through non-violent means, or respecting the boundaries and dignity of others.
Customary justice mechanisms frequently fail to protect victims, fostering a culture of impunity, while domestic violence intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic as economic stressors and confinement amplified household vulnerabilities. Against this backdrop, interventions that combine accurate information, safe dialogue, and accessible support services are urgently required.
In response, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family (MoLSAF), in collaboration with UNICEF and local civil society partners, launched the NASTEEXO Platform — a pioneering technology-driven initiative designed to combat GBV, promote RHR, and catalyse behavioural change through education and community engagement. Officially unveiled during the global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign in November 2024 and fully operationalised in February 2025, the platform represents Somaliland’s first large-scale digital intervention addressing these intersecting challenges (MoLSAF, 2024). Its design draws on evidence-based practice and on comparable models in similar settings, such as Kenya’s Ujana initiative and the digital outreach programmes of Ain o Salish Kendra (ASK) in Bangladesh (Heise & Kotsadam, 2015; World Bank, 2021), and is aligned with UNESCO’s guidance on comprehensive sexuality education (UNESCO, 2018) and with Sustainable Development Goals 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and 5 (Gender Equality) (United Nations, 2023).
1.2. Objectives
The NASTEEXO Platform pursues five interrelated objectives:
• To enhance public knowledge and understanding of GBV and reproductive health rights through accessible, culturally sensitive education;
• To create safe and inclusive spaces in which girls, boys, and women can express themselves, engage in dialogue, and seek support;
• To establish a robust referral system connecting survivors of GBV to healthcare, legal aid, and psychosocial services;
• To empower young people to use creative expression in advocacy and awareness-raising; and
• To foster a societal shift toward gender equality, respect, safety, and non-violence.
2. Methods: Programme Design and Implementation
2.1. Platform Components
The NASTEEXO Platform integrates five complementary, technology-enabled components designed to reach diverse audiences:
• Talk shows. Regularly scheduled discussions featuring subject-matter experts, community leaders, and youth representatives address GBV and RHR topics, providing practical guidance and stimulating community-wide dialogue.
• Calls and referral services. A dedicated hotline offers both a live response system, staffed by trained operators who address urgent GBV concerns, and prerecorded informational messages available when live assistance is not, ensuring continuous access to safe guidance.
• Creative educational dramas. Drama workshops and performances enable young people to explore GBV and reproductive health themes through storytelling; performances are shared with communities to foster empathy and informed engagement.
• Safe information and education access. Secure channels deliver accurate, age-appropriate, and culturally sensitive information on GBV and RHR to students, families, and the broader community in schools, homes, and public transport settings.
• Referral and service provision. A structured referral system links callers to emergency support, legal assistance, and medical services. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) govern the referral process to guarantee comprehensive, respectful, and confidential support, underpinned by partnerships with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), the BAAHIKOOB centre, and legal aid organisations.
2.2. Target Population
The platform’s primary audience is students in grades 5 through 8, a demographic critically underserved in reproductive health education. Content is tailored to age group and educational level to ensure a conducive and inclusive learning environment. In deference to Somali cultural norms — and to minimise the potential for misunderstanding when sensitive topics are addressed — talk-show sessions are conducted separately for boys and girls. Live and prerecorded sessions extend the platform’s reach to information seekers, survivors of GBV, caregivers, and rural populations often excluded from conventional outreach.
2.3. Implementation Strategy
Implementation proceeds along four coordinated tracks:
• Community engagement and awareness campaigns, delivered through in-person orientations, social media campaigns, and partnerships with local leaders;
• Training and capacity building, comprising structured training for hotline operators, social workers, and caseworkers on SOPs, GBV response, and reproductive rights to guarantee service quality;
• Partnerships and collaboration with educational institutions, healthcare providers, law enforcement agencies, and community and religious leaders to provide holistic, accessible services; and
• Monitoring and evaluation, through a structured framework that assesses the reach and impact of each component and informs continuous, feedback-driven improvement.
3. Early Results
The findings reported below derive from preliminary programme monitoring data and participant surveys collected during the platform’s initial operational period; they should be interpreted as early indications rather than definitive evaluation outcomes.
3.1. Enhanced Awareness and Attitudinal Shifts
Preliminary monitoring indicates a marked increase in awareness of GBV and RHR among platform users. Surveys conducted with students and community members reveal improved knowledge of rights, resources, and support services. The platform’s culturally sensitive approach has facilitated open dialogue on subjects long considered taboo, contributing to a more inclusive environment for discussion.
3.2. Accessible Support Services
The dedicated hotline and referral system have provided critical support to survivors. Trained operators offer guidance and connect callers to healthcare, legal aid, and psychosocial services. This component has proven particularly consequential in rural areas, where access to such resources has historically been limited.
3.3. Youth Empowerment
Creative educational dramas and workshops have enabled young people to advocate for gender equality and reproductive health rights. Participants report increased confidence in discussing these topics and a stronger sense of agency in challenging harmful norms. The emphasis on creativity and self-expression has resonated strongly with young audiences.
3.4. Inclusive Safe Spaces
The designation of safe spaces in schools, homes, and public settings has fostered trust and protection within communities. These spaces provide a foundation for sustained dialogue and support, helping individuals feel secure in seeking help and sharing their experiences.
4. Discussion
The NASTEEXO Platform demonstrates that technology-based interventions, when carefully adapted to local cultural realities, can open space for education and advocacy on issues that conventional programming struggles to reach. Its most distinctive contribution lies in reconciling cultural sensitivity with progressive change: by segregating sessions by gender, engaging religious and community leaders, and framing content within Somali social norms, the platform addresses topics that are otherwise silenced without provoking community resistance. This approach is consistent with international evidence that social-norm change is most effective when interventions work with, rather than against, existing community structures (Jewkes, Flood, & Lang, 2015).
The platform’s multichannel architecture — combining broadcast talk shows, an always-available hotline, creative dramas, and structured referral pathways — mirrors the multi-component designs that the global violence-prevention literature associates with stronger outcomes (Krug et al., 2002; Heise & Kotsadam, 2015). Its reliance on both live and prerecorded content also enhances scalability and sustainability, allowing engagement with diverse audiences, including rural populations and survivors who may be unable or unwilling to access in-person services.
Several limitations warrant acknowledgement. First, the outcome data presented here are preliminary and drawn from programme monitoring rather than a controlled evaluation; attributing observed changes in awareness or attitudes to the platform therefore requires caution. Second, self-reported survey data on sensitive topics are susceptible to social desirability bias. Third, digital interventions presuppose access to telephony and media infrastructure, which may exclude the most marginalised households. Rigorous, independent evaluation — ideally incorporating baseline measurement and comparison groups — will be essential to establish the platform’s effectiveness and to inform its scale-up.
5. Conclusion and Recommendations
The NASTEEXO Platform represents a groundbreaking intervention in Somaliland’s efforts to combat gender-based violence and promote reproductive health rights. By leveraging technology, fostering inclusive engagement, and respecting cultural sensitivities, it offers a dynamic and scalable response to deeply entrenched challenges. Its multifaceted approach — combining education, advocacy, and survivor support — holds genuine potential to drive long-term behavioural and cultural change, and its early experience underscores the value of collaboration among government agencies, international organisations, and local stakeholders. Sustained by MoLSAF with UNICEF’s support, the platform stands as a model of innovation for conflict-affected and low-resource settings in the Global South.
To consolidate and extend these gains, the following recommendations are advanced:
• Expand reach. Scale the platform’s initiatives to underserved regions, particularly rural areas, to ensure equitable access to information and support.
• Strengthen partnerships. Deepen collaboration with international NGOs, private-sector actors, and religious leaders to amplify impact and resourcing.
• Monitor and evaluate. Institute robust, independent monitoring and evaluation mechanisms — including baseline and follow-up measurement — to track progress and inform continuous improvement.
• Sustain engagement. Develop long-term strategies to maintain user engagement and preserve the platform’s relevance and effectiveness over time.
• Promote advocacy and legal reform. Support youth-led advocacy and accompanying legal reforms to hold institutions accountable for upholding gender equality and reproductive health rights.
Declarations
Funding: [State funding sources, e.g., UNICEF support to MoLSAF, or ‘This work received no external funding.’]
Conflicts of interest: The author(s) declare no conflicts of interest.
Ethical considerations: All programme activities were conducted in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures safeguarding the confidentiality, dignity, and safety of participants and survivors. [Add ethics approval details if survey data are reported.]
Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, and Family (MoLSAF), UNICEF, and the community leaders, educators, healthcare professionals, and law-enforcement partners whose collaboration underpins the NASTEEXO Platform.
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