Halima Golicha is the chair lady of Isiolo Women of Faith, an affiliate of the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya. Halima has garnered experience in the human rights sector having worked as a civic educator with local civil society actors. She is also a champion of preventing and countering violent extremism and serves as a member of the Isiolo County Committee on the prevention and countering of violent extremism. Halima is passionate about the rights of marginalized communities from the Northern Frontier. She works closely with women who promote the rights of the girl child in largely patriarchal communities, works with the youth in mentorship and promotion of intergenerational exchange of knowledge.
Halima works with a group of women who have lost their sons to alleged radicalization into terrorist groups. She offers refuge from the stigmatization, and debriefing sessions as well as speaking against the extrajudicial killings of youth in the name of security operations. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Promoting Use of Alternative Justice Systems to Counter Violent Extremism

The goal of this project was to integrate the use of alternative justice systems in countering violent extremism through collaboration with inter-faith leaders, Councils of Elders of the five main communities in Isiolo County: Borana, Somali, Turkana, Samburu, and Meru, as well as the County Security and Intelligence Committee. The objectives of the project were multifaceted. The first objective was to train inter-faith and traditional leaders in Isiolo County to adopt the use of alternative justice systems in countering violent extremism. The second objective was to develop a joint protocol for use of alternative justice systems in countering violent extremism in Isiolo county between the County Security and Intelligence Committee, the inter-faith and traditional leaders. Thirdly this project aimed to improve the relationship between youth in Isiolo and the county security agencies through use of alternative justice systems approaches.

30 local leaders participated in a Countering Violent Extremism workshop to promote the use of AJS and provide a clearer understanding of its use. The workshop also included 10 inter-faith leaders, 10 council of elders' members, and 10 members of the County Security and Intelligence Committee.  An additional workshop created a safe space for participants and at-risk youth to share their experiences and how violent extremism has affected their lives socially, economically and mentally. Additionally, a 10-minute video documentary was created on alternative justice systems in countering violent extremism, and one consultive meeting was held with 10 participants. The use of AJS in this project enabled local actors to counter violent extremism by leaning on inter-faith and traditional structures as tools for mitigating extremism and hold decision makers accountable as a way to reduce violent extremism. Many traditional leaders and council elders from Merti and Garbatulla suggested that AJS training is the best form of initial justice.  

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Halima was a participant in the IVLP Project Countering Violent Extremism-Community Strategies organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center.

Halima's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "The IVLP gave me the opportunity to virtually meet with participants from other countries from inter-faith communities, security agencies, and civil societies working to counter violent extremism. I was able to interact with them and draw different lessons and approaches."

U.S. Communities Visited Virtually 

Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; Detroit, MI; Madison, WI

Country: Kenya

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