Hargeisa (SLpost)- Somaliland’s Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family has published a 2025 edition of its Child Rights Magazine, highlighting persistent challenges facing girls and children, including gender-based violence, barriers to education, female genital mutilation (FGM), child marriage, disability inclusion and menstrual health, while outlining government commitments aimed at improving child protection and social services.
The publication, released to coincide with activities marking the International Day of the Girl Child, features messages from senior government officials, policy proposals and first-person accounts from children describing their experiences with education, sport and disability. It also includes editorials and case studies intended to draw attention to gaps in child protection and social welfare.
In a foreword, Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family Milgo Mohamed Elmi said the government was working with other ministries to improve access to education and healthcare for girls, reduce the cost of menstrual hygiene products and strengthen laws protecting children from violence and harmful traditional practices.
The vice minister, Mohamed Muse X. Abdi (Galaydh), said the ministry was pursuing broader reforms including expanding access to primary education, increasing vaccination coverage, strengthening social protection, promoting environmental resilience and establishing a Children’s Parliament to give young people a greater voice in public affairs.
Among the magazine’s findings is a summary of a 2025 menstrual health assessment conducted by the ministry with support from UNICEF. According to the report, seven in ten adolescent girls lack adequate menstrual products, while more than 60% miss school during menstruation because of pain, stigma or inadequate sanitation facilities. The assessment also found that fewer than one-third of surveyed schools had functioning separate toilets for girls.
An editorial in the publication argues that violence against girls represents both a human rights concern and a barrier to national development. It cites estimates that nearly all women aged 15 to 49 in Somaliland have undergone FGM and says many girls continue to face early marriage, educational exclusion and poverty, calling for stronger legal protections, greater political representation for women and improved monitoring of child welfare indicators.
The magazine also includes several personal accounts illustrating the challenges children face. One case study recounts the experience of a 15-year-old girl who became pregnant after sexual assault and later suffered severe childbirth complications, highlighting shortcomings in healthcare access and support services for survivors of gender-based violence.
Another profile tells the story of a deaf girl from Hargeisa who left school after experiencing bullying, discrimination and the absence of sign-language support, while urging authorities to strengthen inclusive education for children with disabilities.
Alongside these accounts, the publication features stories of girls who have excelled in reading, basketball and football, presenting them as examples of youth leadership and resilience despite social and economic barriers.
The magazine also outlines the NASTEEXO Platform, a government-backed digital initiative designed to provide adolescents, particularly girls, with information on health, child protection and referral services through online resources and hotlines. Officials say the platform is intended to improve access to support services and strengthen awareness of child rights nationwide.
The publication comes as researchers and rights advocates continue to emphasize that children in Somaliland face unique legal and institutional challenges because of the territory’s lack of international recognition, even as local authorities have introduced child protection legislation and policy reforms in recent years.
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