Somalia becomes 52nd African country to ratify charter to better protect child rights

MOGADISHU, 2 October 2025 – Children across Somalia will have greater legal protections for theselves and their rights, including access to health and education, after Somalia’s federal parliament ratified Africa’s only regional charter on the rights of the child.

The landmark ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child this week means the government of Somalia is now legally obliged to align national laws and policies with the provisions of the charter that was established 35 years ago.

This will also oblige the government of Somalia to report to the Africa Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child on the progress being made to implement the provisions of the charter. 

Somalia becomes the 52nd African country to ratify the treaty, with Morocco, South Sudan and Tunisia the only African Union members to not yet do so.

Save the Children has been a principal partner driving the ratification process, working closely with the Federal Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development, Somalia Child Rights Coalition and the Federal Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, 

The child rights agency is now calling on Somalia’s Upper House of Parliament (Senate) to approve the Charter and the President to sign it into law.

With the charter’s strong calls on child participation and elimination of harmful cultural practices, Somalia will be required to take all necessary steps to advance legal protections for children and allocate adequate resources for enforcement.

After decades of conflict in Somalia, cases of grave violations of children remain rampant including sexual assault, abductions, and recruitment into armed groups. 

Binyam Gebru, Acting Country Director for Save the Children in Somalia, said: 

“This is a historic achievement for Somalia’s children. By ratifying the Charter, Somalia has taken a bold and long-overdue step toward ensuring that every child in this country is protected, respected, and given the opportunity to thrive. This milestone is not just a legal achievement—it is a promise to millions of Somali children that their rights matter and will be safeguarded.

“The Ratification of the Charter and approval of the Disability Act late last year shows Somalia’s strong commitment towards protecting and advancing children’s rights.” 

Save the Children has been working in Somalia since 1951, delivering life-saving health, nutrition, education, and protection services. In 2024, Save the Children reached 3.2 million people, including 1.9 million children, across 17 regions in the country.

ENDS