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MOGADISHU — Within the framework of its strategic efforts to consolidate human rights principles and protect vulnerable groups, the Chairperson of the National Independent Human Rights Commission, Dr. Maryam Qasim Ahmed, held official talks in Mogadishu on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, with the UNICEF Representative to Somalia, Ms. Sandra Lattouf. The meeting focused on joint cooperation in child care and protection.
The meeting—as reported by the Somali National News Agency (SONNA)—reviewed ways to enhance the partnership between the Commission and the UN organization, particularly regarding advancing child rights and developing national systems aimed at providing a safe environment to ensure their growth and well-being in line with international standards.
Discussions centered on strengthening legal and social protection frameworks for children. The Commission Chairperson—according to the SONNA—emphasized the necessity of integrating efforts between sovereign institutions and international organizations to ensure the provision of comprehensive services that protect childhood from all forms of abuse.
For her part, Ms. Sandra Lattouf welcomed this cooperation, affirming UNICEF’s full readiness to support Somali national institutions in strengthening child protection frameworks and developing accountability and monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance with fundamental rights guaranteed by international conventions.
The talks highlighted the importance of building the capacity of national human rights cadres and providing the necessary technical support to the Independent Commission to carry out its duties in monitoring and documenting child issues, as well as activating national laws that support the psychological and social stability of youth.
Both parties stressed the need to transform strategic plans into field-based action programs that impact the lives of children across various regions, focusing on the most underserved areas to ensure that care, education, and protection reach every child without exception.
In her closing remarks, Dr. Maryam Qasim Ahmed reaffirmed the Commission’s firm commitment to making child rights protection a top national priority, stressing that the ultimate goal is to translate policies and pledges into tangible actions felt by Somali children in their daily lives.
Reports following the meeting clarified that the partnership with UNICEF represents a fundamental pillar in the National Transformation Plan, as international expertise contributes to supporting local efforts with modern methods and methodologies to face human rights challenges in the country.
These talks confirm Somalia’s upward trajectory in the human rights sector and the serious pursuit of building strong national institutions capable of protecting and preserving the dignity of its citizens, forging a prosperous future that begins with ensuring the rights of rising generations.
Betting on child rights protection in Somalia is a bet on “shaping humanity” and building a solid foundation for state stability and prosperity; for childhood is the true reservoir of national values and hopes. This harmony between national will and UN support paves the way for a future where every Somali child grows in an environment of dignity and justice, transforming rights from legal texts into a lived reality where creativity and leadership flourish.
