Somalia - One Year Later: Somaliland Takes Stock of Commitments Made to Children.
Government leaders, children and partners gather at the Second Children's Conference in Hargeisa to review progress and renew commitments to children's rights and well-being.
UNICEF Somalia supported the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (MOLSAF) in convening the Second Children’s Conference, marking one year since the adoption of ten commitments aimed at improving the lives and well-being of children across Somaliland.
The conference was officially opened by H.E. Mohamed Ali Aw Abdi, Vice-President of Somaliland, and brought together government leaders, children, development partners, civil society organizations, and private sector representatives to review progress made against the commitments and renew collective efforts to advance the rights and well-being of children.
“The welfare of children remains a top priority for our government. We will continue to strengthen education and health services to ensure that every child in Somaliland grows up in a safe, supportive and enabling environment where they can thrive and reach their full potential”, said H.E. Mohamed Aw-Ali Abdi, Vice-President of Somaliland.
A key highlight of the event was the presentation of achievements made since the adoption of the 2025 commitments. Notable progress included the expansion of education infrastructure, increased school enrolment, and strengthened immunization and nutrition services.
Significant gains were also recorded in child protection. These included progress towards anti-FGM legislation, strengthened community-based child protection mechanisms, expanded protection services, advancements in child-focused legal and policy reforms, and increased participation of children in decision-making processes.
“Too often we are told to wait. Your time will come. But what if our time is already here? Participation is not just sitting quietly in a room. Real participation means speaking and being heard”, said Muwada Mohamed , a 14 years old female primary school student in Hargeisa.
While important milestones have been achieved, participants emphasized the need for sustained investment, stronger collaboration, and continued commitment to ensure that every child in Somaliland is protected, empowered, and able to reach their full potential.
The conference also resulted in a renewed set of commitments by the Government. These include the development and implementation of a national strategy on access to justice for children, with a strong focus on prevention; strengthening child-friendly justice systems and restorative approaches for children in conflict with the law to promote care, protection, rehabilitation, and reintegration; and the establishment and operationalization of Children’s Parliaments at both national and regional levels.
