Significant Progress in Somalia: A New Chapter in Child Protection
- Advertisement -
Photograph that tugs at the heart strings: armed Somali children huddled behind sandbags during fighting are a grim reminder of the past. This photograph, which was snapped in an unspecified date, is a reflection of a nation struggling against the ugly facades of a war. Somalia had for years figured on the list of countries where children were conscripted and used in hostilities—such a pitiable testament to instability—but on June 17, 2025, the country rejoiced at a historic step on its path by being officially removed from the list, a good move for Somalia on its way to world child protection standards.
Breaking Out of a Stigmatized Past
This most recent classification does more than place a check on some world ledger; it is a promise of transformation at its very essence. Somalia had been on this blacklist since 2007, and many of the reports had documented the involvment of militias and security units working for the government in the recruitment of child militants. It was a glaring question—how was a nation to restore itself when its most vulnerable were being pulled into the cycle of violence?
The Somali Ministry of Defense celebrated by saying, “The delisting from the UN list reasserts Somalia’s commitment to respect the Constitution and international humanitarian law.” This goes beyond a slogan and represents a vision anew. This reinforces the belief that “the Somali child is not a fighter—they are the future of this country.” This is strongly reflected among communities striving for peace and development.
Collaboration: The Heart of Change
This attainment was not pursued alone. Continued reforms and joint endeavors with organizations such as UNICEF and the United Nations Transition Mission in Somalia (UNTSOM) were attributed by the Ministry of Defense. This joint effort formed a basis for essential reforms, which involved training on child protection, military code upgrading, stringent screening during recruitment, and tough systems of monitoring.
Reflection on this collective endeavor recalls the wisdom of Helen Keller: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” This cooperative attitude reflects the determination of each of the participants in shifting the paradigm for Somali children. It reflects the importance of collective initiative in building accountability and taking a stake in the future.
Role of the Child Protection Committee
Central to these reforms was the Child Protection Committee, chaired by the Ministry of Defense. This played a significant role in drafting policies closely aligned with Somalia’s Constitution and international obligations. This collaboration also brings with it an assumption that policies and legislation are no better than the commitment to their observance. This also brings a most compelling question—how can civil society be involved in drafting policies for the protection of their children?
However, their celebration of Somalia’s delisting is tempered by perceptions of persisting threats. Armed non-state groups, chief among them being al-Shabaab, continue to wield control in parts of the country, where their forced conscription of children is a presence—the lasting disaster calling for recognition of peacekeeping’s multidimensionality. This serves to raise a critical question: what way can society thwart the inroads of forces for its weakest constituents?
Community Resilience: A Forward-L
To these threats, administrators have made a commitment to expand community protections and supervision in a bid to shield vulnerable teens from these harmful avenues. Community intervention is most important here since it is these communities who are on the front line, having first-hand experience of their children’s suffering. This leads to a critical question for us: what can be done by communities to provide a sturdy safety net for their teens?
Government officials state that Somalia is to be maintained under periodic review by the United Nations for compliance with child protection standards. The officials’ commitment remains a showing of intentions to maintain the gains which have been realized with the term, “This milestone is a testament to Somalia’s reform journey and a step forward for the credibility of its armed forces.” But will the process continue to gain more traction?
A Promising Future
While the future is full of numerous issues, the present trend of Somalia shows a sense of hope. By respecting the rights of children and their futures, the nation is on the right track progressing towards peace and stability.
When we look back on these shifts, we cannot forget that each of these numbers is a child’s story, a young life of potential hoping to flourish. And maybe the most powerful question of all is: what can we do to ensure each child can grow up in a world where they can dream without fear?
Finally, delisting of Somalia from the list of countries that use child soldiers is a step most certainly worth celebrating. But it was also a reminder of the perennial fight for children’s protection and more effort is required from all corners—government, society, and the international community.
This history of Somalia represents a broader human one—a responsibility to one another, a sense of shared humanhood, and above all, a dream of a better future.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International – Monitoring
