As the devastating impact of nearly three decades of conflict, insecurity, political fragility, and climate shocks continue to push Somalia’s 17.1 million people to the brink of humanitarian crisis, women and children continue to bear the brunt of these crises.

Development Diaries reports that women and children in Somalia face many violations of their rights, including gender-based violence (GBV) and limited access to justice systems.

Despite the country being a signatory to the United Nations Rights Conventions, Somalia lacks a comprehensive legal framework that addresses the rights of women and children.

It is estimated that at least 98 percent of Somali girls between the ages of nine and 15 have undergone female genital mutation (FGM)/cut, with GBV highly prevalent.

Data from United Nations also indicates that over 90 percent or more of girls and women in the country have been subjected to FGM, and it is understood that FGM in Somalia is deeply rooted in cultural norms and practices.

Similarly, about 35 percent of Somali girls go through child marriage with no legal framework to stop it in courts.

‘Women and children in Somalia face many violations of their rights, including gender-based violence and have limited access to the justice systems, Women and Child Rights laws and policies have remained ‘drafts’, Save the Children (SCI) said in a statement.

‘They are not prioritised, which contributes to the continuation of sexual violence against women and girls in Somalia’.

As noted by SCI, the government of Somalia should prioritise the protection of the rights of women and children who are currently impacted by a complex humanitarian crisis.

Development Diaries calls on the government of Somalia to respect its promises and fulfil the commitments it made in recent human rights accountability briefings by the United Nations Human Rights Council and Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Photo source: Save the Children