Somalia ratifies African Charter on Child Rights in landmark vote
The decision was reached on Wednesday during a parliamentary sitting in Mogadishu, chaired by Speaker of the Lower House Sheikh Adan Mohamed Noor Madobe, where 145 lawmakers were present.
Somalia has ratified the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, becoming the latest African nation to adopt the regional human rights treaty.
The African Charter, adopted in 1990 by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU), requires member states to safeguard children from abuse, guarantee access to education and health care and promote their overall welfare.
The decision was reached on Wednesday during a parliamentary sitting in Mogadishu, chaired by Speaker of the Lower House Sheikh Adan Mohamed Noor Madobe, where 145 lawmakers were present.
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According to a statement from the country's Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development, 130 MPs voted in favour of the ratification, 10 opposed it, while the remaining five abstained.
"This historic outcome reflects Somalia's enduring commitment to upholding and advancing the rights of its children, who are the cornerstone of the nation's future," the Ministry's statement reads.
The ratification is viewed as a landmark step toward strengthening legal protections for children in Somalia, a country where young people form the majority of the population but remain vulnerable due to conflict, poverty and limited access to essential services.
"The ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child is of great importance to the Somali people, particularly to our children who are the future of our country. It provides an opportunity for Somali children to benefit from stronger protections and greater opportunities for growth and development," said Family and Human Rights Development Minister Khadija Mohammed Al-Makhzoumi.
"The Ministry extends its sincere appreciation to the leadership of Parliament and to all members who championed this landmark legislation."
Rights groups have welcomed Somalia's ratification as a long-awaited step toward matching continental standards on child protection.
According to ReliefWeb, in the first half of 2025, over half a million newly displaced persons were recorded in Somalia, with 60 per cent being children, exposed to heightened risks of family separation, child labour, and forced marriage.
With Somalia's endorsement, only Morocco, South Sudan and Tunisia are yet to ratify the treaty, highlighting its wide acceptance across Africa.
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