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MOGADISHU — H.E. Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, the Somali Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, held an official talks session in the capital, Mogadishu, with a delegation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), led by Maymuchka Lauriston, Deputy Regional Representative and Head of the East Africa office. This step aligns with government efforts to bolster human rights frameworks and advance social policies in accordance with international standards.
The Somali National News Agency (SONNA) reported that the discussions focused on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between Mogadishu and the OHCHR, with a particular emphasis on mechanisms for implementing UN Human Rights Council resolutions. Both sides discussed the practical steps taken to activate international resolutions related to the development of the country’s institutional human rights structure.
According to SONNA, the session included a review of the joint action plan for 2026–2027, which aims to establish an integrated roadmap for enhancing protection and ensuring fundamental rights. The meeting highlighted strategic priorities for the coming period to ensure the sustainability of the progress Somalia has achieved in this area.
Both parties discussed accelerating procedures for establishing an official OHCHR office in Somalia, representing a qualitative shift in the level of field partnership. News reports indicate that a permanent OHCHR office will contribute to providing necessary technical and advisory support to government agencies and enhancing the efficiency of national personnel in this field.
These diplomatic moves complement the extensive efforts of the ministry to promote human rights, especially following successes in recent years. These achievements included restoring the independence of the national human rights framework, reflecting Mogadishu’s political will to consolidate principles of justice and equality as part of the democratic transition and state-building process.
The talks emphasized the importance of activating the role of the National Human Rights Commission and providing the necessary resources to enable it to perform its constitutional duties effectively. The UN delegation expressed appreciation for the steps taken by the Somali government, reaffirming OHCHR’s commitment to providing support to ensure the success of the bilateral action plan.
The meeting also focused on family issues and community development as a core pillar of the national human rights strategy. Both parties agreed on the necessity of integrating human rights principles into national development plans to ensure the protection of the most vulnerable groups and promote social peace, serving the Somali people’s aspirations for stability and prosperity.
The session concluded by affirming continued coordination and consultation between the two sides to follow up on the action plan and overcome logistical and technical challenges. This close cooperation with the UN serves as international testimony to Somalia’s progress in institutional and legal reform, enhancing the country’s standing in international forums concerned with protecting human dignity.
Strengthening partnerships between states and UN institutions in the fields of human rights represents the true guarantee for achieving sustainable development and community security. Through its openness to international expertise, Somalia remains a model of striving toward consolidating a state of institutions based on respect for the law and the preservation of the fundamental rights of all its citizens.
