Hargeisa (SLpost)- Mohamed Abdi Hashi, Director General of the Somaliland Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (MOLSAF), has officially opened a two-day meeting focused on reviewing and reforming the care system for children without parental care.
The meeting, jointly organised by the Ministry and SOS Children’s Villages Somaliland, aims to assess the existing child care framework and develop practical recommendations to strengthen the protection, welfare and rights of children who lack parental care.
Speaking at the opening, the Director General reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights, particularly those of children who do not have parental care. He stressed the importance of ensuring that these children receive appropriate care and support under systems and legal frameworks that uphold their rights and protect their best interests.
He also highlighted the importance of using the two-day meeting to review existing care arrangements, identify areas requiring improvement and develop actionable recommendations to address challenges affecting children without parental care.
The discussions are expected to focus on strengthening the systems responsible for protecting vulnerable children and ensuring that their care arrangements reflect their rights and welfare needs.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the Director General thanked the participants and SOS Children’s Villages Somaliland for their involvement and contribution to efforts aimed at improving child protection and care services.
Representatives from international agencies and local child-rights organisations also took part in the meeting, stressing the need for a more effective and coordinated approach to protecting children without parental care.
They called for stronger institutional collaboration and comprehensive reforms to ensure that children receive appropriate care and protection, in line with their rights and individual needs.
The meeting underscores ongoing efforts by the Ministry and its partners to strengthen child protection and welfare mechanisms in Somaliland, with particular attention to children who lack parental care and require appropriate protection, support and long-term care arrangements.
