Protection of Children’s and Family Rights under Somali Law and International Conventions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65960/ijlss.2.3.2026.21Keywords:
Child, Protection, juvenile, Conventions, Family, RightsAbstract
ABSTRACT
The protection of children and family rights in Somalia remains a significant challenge due to the pluralistic legal system combining statutory law, Shari‘a, and customary law (Xeer), which has resulted in inconsistent definitions of a child, fragmented legal standards, and gaps in implementation that expose children to abuse, exploitation, child labour, and early marriage. This study examines the legal and institutional frameworks governing the protection of children and family rights in Somalia, assesses their alignment with international and regional standards, and evaluates their effectiveness in safeguarding children and supporting family welfare. The study adopts a doctrinal legal research approach based on the analysis of primary sources, including the Somali Provisional Constitution (2012), the Family Law of 1975, the Labour Code of 2025, the Juvenile Justice Law of 2025, and relevant international and regional instruments, supported by secondary literature. The findings indicate that Somalia has developed a multi-layered legal and institutional framework incorporating constitutional, statutory, and international elements. However, inconsistencies in legal definitions, particularly regarding the age of a child, and the coexistence of multiple legal systems create challenges in interpretation and enforcement. Accordingly, the study recommends the harmonization of domestic laws to establish a uniform definition of a child, strengthening institutional capacity and enforcement mechanisms, improving coordination between legal systems, and enhancing the implementation of international obligations to better protect children and families.
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NATIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND POLICY INSTRUMENTS
1. Provisional Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia (2012)
2. Somali Family Law (1975)
3. Juvenile Courts and Reformatories Law No. 13 of 8 March 1970
4. Somali Juvenile Justice Law (2025)
5. Somali Labour Code Lr. 36 of 30 May 2025
6. Somali Penal Code (Legislative Decree No. 5 of 1962)
7. Presidential Decree No. 29 of 10 February 1981 on Family Law Regulations
8. Law No. 22 of 24 June 1984 on the Establishment of the Supreme Council for the Welfare of Mothers and Children
9. Law No. 3 of February 1986 on the Establishment of the Somali Children’s Development Organization
10. Somali Civil Code, Law No. 37 of June 1973 (entered into force on 1 July 1973).
11. Somali National Policy on the Protection of Civilians (2026)
INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEGAL FRAMEWORK
1. Core International Human Rights Treaties
2. Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) (1989)
3. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) (1966)
4. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) (1966)
5. Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979)
6. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) (2006)
7. Convention Against Torture (CAT) (1984)
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) CONVENTIONS
1. Forced Labour Convention (No. 29)
2. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention (No. 87)
3. Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention (No. 98)
4. Abolition of Forced Labour Convention (No. 105)
5. Discrimination (Employment and Occupation) Convention (No. 111)
6. Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention (No. 182)
REGIONAL (AFRICAN) INSTRUMENTS
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1990
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Data Availability Statement
No new datasets were generated or analyzed in this study. The research is based on publicly available legal instruments, legislation, judicial decisions, and other published sources, which are cited appropriately throughout the article.
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