Gofran Abdulrahman Al-Absi

Responsible for conducting a high-level review and analysis of Muslim family laws in the Greater Horn of Africa countries with majority and minority Muslim populations against Musawah’s identified areas of discrimination against women and girls (including age of marriage, inheritance, matrimonial assets etc) and access to justice in order to build the case for legal reform

Key Achievements

• Completed a high-level review and analysis of Muslim family laws in seven (7) countries
• With a majority or minority Muslim populations against Musawah’s identified 12 areas of discrimination against women and girls (including age of marriage, inheritance, matrimonial assets etc.) and access to justice in order to build the case for legal reform
• The review included analysis of countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda, and
• Somaliland
• Provided country briefs for the seven countries highlighting commitments to SDGs, Maputo protocol, and CEDAW (or lack thereof), and gave a comparison and summary of progress, journey
• To reform, and key family law issues of concern
• Highlighted the impact of discriminatory Muslim family law on women and girls across the different countries listed above
• Provided cases (where possible) and opportunities for legal reform in each context, including linking such reform to commitments around regional and global commitments such as SGD 5 (Specifically, Indicator 5.1.1: Legal Frameworks that Promote, Enforce & Monitor Gender
• Equality)
• Highlighted good practices across the study area for Muslim family law reform and improved equality for women and girls
• Finalized research titled ‘COMPARATIVE REVIEW OF MUSLIM FAMILY LAWS IN THE GREATER
• HORN OF AFRICA REGION’ which is in the final stages of getting Publicized by Musawah
• Successfully presented the findings of the research in ‘Africa Regional Workshop on Family Law Reform’ held in Nairobi, Kenya from 4th to 6th October 2022.

Responsible for documenting and researching frameworks, case laws, policies, procedures, and practices pertaining to issues of concern about Muslim marriages and family matters and administration of family laws in Ethiopia.

Key Achievements

• Successfully compiled and documented information outlining the legislative frameworks, available case laws, policies, procedures and practices in Ethiopia along Musawah’s 12 principal issues of concern which include: equality of spouses (or lack thereof), minimum age of marriage, women’s consent, women’s capacity, polygamy, violence against women in the family, divorce, women’s financial rights after divorce, custody of children, guardianship of children, nationality, and presented them in a country overview table
• Mapped the relevant stakeholders and tracked contact information about stakeholders (both individuals and organizations) working on family laws, particularly as it relates to (Muslim) women’s rights
• Developed a country page summary write-up of the research findings about Ethiopia
• Finalized Ethiopia’s Country Table with regards to the Family in Ethiopia which is to be found on Musawah’s website
• Presented on the Qadhi Court System of Justice and how Muslim family law cases get administered in Sub-Saharan African countries using Ethiopia as a case study on the Africa Regional Network on
• Muslim Family Laws Outreach Call held on May 2022, Ethiopia Country Office, Humanitarian Department: Phone: +251-960-260095

Responsible for supporting one of the key directorates (Women’s and Child Rights)

Key Achievements

• Supported the mainstreaming of gender in the core functions of the Commission
• Supported the Commission in using improved tools for monitoring the rights and infringements of rights of women and children
• Supported the Women & Children Directorate capacitate itself with improved and effective advocacy strategies to advocate for the rights of women and children
• Supported the Women Directorate in the implementation of plans.

• Responsible for supporting and coordinating the implementation of the overall Humanitarian Emergency response

Key Achievements

• Supported in gathering and compiling monthly situation reports of the emergency responses; drought, Acute water Diarrhea (AWD) and Refugee response programs together with the
• Communication team
• Supported in small scale emergency responses through drafting alerts, preparation of categorization documents and providing logistical support to the field offices
• Assisted in facilitating procurement and transportation of relief items to the field offices
• Supported in program and budget development as required.

Responsible for the overall workflow between the management and the rest of the staff

Key Achievements

• Acted as the main link between the top management and the rest of the staff
• Prepared and managed international and local correspondence, reports, and documents
• Organized and coordinate meetings, conferences, and travel arrangements; Set up work procedures, collected information, and maintained database; Liaised with internal and external contacts and coordinated the flow of information both internally and externally.

Responsible for assisting lawyers

Key Achievements

• Participated in supporting victims and assisted lawyers in giving the needed legal aid and help to victims