Somalia holds first National Human Rights Summit in Mogadishu

Somalia on Monday hosted its first-ever National Human Rights Summit in the capital Mogadishu, bringing together government officials, civil society groups, journalists, and international partners to discuss the state of human rights in the country.

The summit, organized by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Abdisalam Ali, who underlined the federal government’s commitment to advancing human rights protections.

“It is time for Somalia to lead the way in human rights protection,” he said. “We must build a society where rights are respected, protected, and accessible to all.”

British Ambassador to Somalia Mike Nithavrianakis also addressed the gathering, calling for collective action to strengthen accountability and ensure human rights are central to national development and governance.

“We must collectively continue our work in a bid to achieve greater accountability and ensure human is right at the center of national development and governance,” he said.

According to local media, the summit aims to address key human rights challenges and encourage dialogue on justice, equality, and inclusive governance across Somalia.

The conference comes at a time of increased concern over the shrinking civic space in the country, particularly with regard to freedom of the press. Between May 2023 and May 2024, at least 28 incidents of violence against journalists were reported, including the killing of three media workers.

Observers say it remains to be seen whether the summit will lead to concrete improvements in the protection of human rights on the ground.