Introducing the National Child Helpline in Somalia
A Pillar of Protection for Children
Fatima (12) lives in a camp for displaced persons. After losing her parents during a recent drought-induced displacement, she was taken in by a distant relative, where, instead of going to school, she was forced to work as domestic help, often enduring long hours without rest and facing constant verbal abuse. She felt trapped, isolated, and believed she had no one to turn to. Her dreams of becoming a teacher were fading away.
Fatima's situation is emblematic of many children who find themselves in difficult situations and need help. They are exposed to different forms of abuse, exploitation and violence, with nowhere to turn for rescue. To respond to the challenges, the government, UNICEF and the wider child protection actors are setting up systems to improve access to services through the child helpline. Children like Fatima can access immediate protection, rescue and placement into possible alternative care, including education and counselling by a professional child protection worker.
The helpline is more than just a phone number; it is a lifeline for every child in Somalia. It is a promise that their voice will be heard; that they are not alone, as a system exists to provide help.
In a landmark step towards strengthening the child protection systems, the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development, with support from UNICEF and the Child Protection Area of Responsibility, is launching the National Child Helpline Operational Guidelines that will pave the way for the establishment of a national child helpline.
The child helpline is a free, confidential, and accessible phone service for all children and concerned adults. By simply dialling the helpline, a child in distress or an adult with concerns about a child's well-being can connect with a trained, professional child protection worker, who will:
- Listen with empathy and without judgment.
- Provide immediate counselling and psychosocial support.
- Connect the child to essential services such as health, legal aid, and social workers who will provide further assistance and protection.
The child helpline is a critical tool for reporting child protection violations, such as child labour, family separation, physical and sexual abuse, and emotional distress.
Strengthening Systems, Protecting the Future
In Somalia, there currently exists a myriad of hotlines that are mostly not sustainable because they are linked to short-term projects. The national child helpline aims to harmonize all helplines and will not only offer immediate response to reported cases but will also generate vital, national-level data on the nature of reported violations across the country, information that will be valuable for the government and partners to:
- Identify and address gaps in child protection services.
- Inform policy and advocacy efforts.
- Design more effective prevention and response programmes.
The helpline will be a cornerstone of a robust national child protection system that connects communities with formal support structures, ensuring a more coordinated and effective safety net for vulnerable children.
A Collective Responsibility
Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, caring, and protective environment. Yet, for too many children in Somalia, this is not the reality. In the face of conflict, climate change, and poverty, children are often the most vulnerable, exposed to risks of abuse, exploitation, violence and neglect. They witness things no child should see and carry burdens no child should bear. The most significant challenge has been the silence that often surrounds their suffering. Children may not know who to trust, where to turn, or even may not have the words to describe what they are experiencing.
Protecting children is everyone's business. This operational guideline is a momentous achievement, but its success depends on everyone. Other government bodies, such as the ministries of Health, Energy and Water Resources, Education, Culture and Higher Education, and civil society organizations, need to join in the effort to establish the helpline. Community and religious leaders, parents and ordinary citizens have a role to report all child rights violations. Every child in Somalia should know that help is just a phone call away.
The child helpline is a landmark in Somalia's quest for a better, just and equitable society where every child feels safe and protected. Its establishment is made possible by financial support from the Government of Denmark.
