Research by the Thomson Reuters Foundation consistently ranks Somalia as one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman, with the biggest threats including rape, and a lack of ante-natal care.
Ilwad Elman was born in Somalia, but grew up in the safety of Canada, after her father, a human rights activist, was murdered in Somalia.
Her family established the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in Mogadishu after his death, and also the first rape crisis centre in the country known as Sister Somalia.
On a visit to Australia, Ilwad Elman has spoken to Hassan Jama from SBS Radio's Somali program about the challenges posed by helping victims of sexual assault in Somalia.
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