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Children's rights in Somaliland

In May 1991, Somaliland declared independence from Somalia. No country recognises Somaliland as an independent country. This blog examines the impact of Somaliland's contested status on the development of children's rights from both a national and international law perspective.

Do Our Children Have Rights? Children’s Rights in the Unrecognised State of Somaliland

1 June 2024 - By Guleid Ahmed Jama

On the 13th of May 2024 at Maastricht University, I defended my PhD dissertation titled Do Our Children Have Rights? Children’s Rights in the Unrecognised State of Somaliland. Human rights are supposedly universal, applicable to everyone, everywhere and at every time.

However, children living in unrecognised states, also called de facto states, are often left out and are invisible to international human rights law. International human rights law is (recognised) state-centric and often looks at issues from the prism of state and non-state actors. Entities like Somaliland (and also Taiwan and Kosovo, among others) do not fit such dichotomy because they cannot be classified as non-state actors. They have fulfilled the objective criteria of statehood, but they do not have recognition at all, as in the case of Somaliland or are partially recognised (e.g. Kosovo and Taiwan).

The research examined the applicability of international human rights law from the perspective of being an unrecognised state and the national laws of Somaliland concerning children’s rights. My aim is to contribute to the legal discourse related to international human rights law from legal doctrinal methodology with the hope that international human rights law will become inclusive and truly universal.

The full copy of the dissertation can be found here.

You can watch below the PhD defence of Guleid:

Muhiimadda Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurta ee Somaliland (Somali version)

24 January 2023 - Guleid Ahmed Jama

Bishii Oktoobar 2022, waxa Madaxwaynaha Somaliland uu saxeexay Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurta. Qoraalkani waxa uu faah-faahinayaa muhiimadda uu Xeerkani u leeyahay ilaalinta xuquuqda carruurta Somaliland oo ah dal aan saxeexin ama qayb ka ahayn heshiisyada caalamiga ah ee xuquuqal insaanka, sababta oo ah waa dal aan la aqoonsan.

Xeerarka xuquuqal insaan ee Somaliland

Somaliland waxa ay sannadkii 1991 ku dhawaaqday inay ka madax banaan tahay Somalia. Waxa ka jira hay’ado u madax banaan – dawlad, booliis, ciidan qaran, garsoorayaal iyo qareenno – balse dalalka kale weli ma aqoonsana. Aqoonsi la’aanta Somaliland waxa ay raad ku leedahay ilaalinta xuquuqal insaanka oo ay ka mid tahay xuquuqda caruurta. Dalalka la aqoonsan yahay waxa xuquuqal insaanka lagu ilaaliyaa heshiisyada caalamiga ah ee xuquuqal insaan ee ay xubinta ka yihiin. Haseyeeshee, iyada oo ay jiraan habraacyo ay dalalka aan la aqoonsan ay xubin kaga noqo karaan heshiisyadaas, hadana waa hanaan adag. Aqoonsi la’aanta Somaliland macneheedu waxa uu yahay waa inaan Somaliland xubin ka noqon karin heshiis caalami ah oo xuquuqal insaan. Somaliland xubin kama aha Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta ama heshiis kale oo xuquuqal insaan. Taasi waxa ay keentay in dadka ku nool gudaha Somaliland aanu ilaalin xeerka caalamiga ah ee xuquuqal insaanku. Si ay dadku u ilaashadaan xuquuqdoooda waxa ay ku tiirsan yihiin xeerarka Somaliland oo keliya. Waxa arinka sii adkeeyey nidaamka sharci ee Somaliland oo ah mid badan (plural legal system) oo ka kooban xeer dhaqameed, Shareecada iyo xeerarka dawladdu samayso. Shareecadu waxa il u ah Quraanka, Sunnaha (oo ah wixii laga maqlay iyo wixii lagu arkay Nebi Maxamed), Ijmaac, Qiyaas iyo Curfi (caadada). Xeer dhaqameedku ma qorna (waxa jiil ba jiil ugu gudbiyaa si aan qornayn) islamarkaana waxa uu ku sallaysan yahay go’aamada ay hore uga gaadheen odayada qabiilka ee dacwad loo dhiibo ((Guurti, Xeer-beegti). Xeerku waxa uu ku xidhan yahay ururka bulsho oo ah qaiilada Soomaalida oo ay isku hayso abtirsiinta gasha awoow guud oo qabiil kastaa ku arooro. Natiijada ka dhalatay ilaha xeer ee kala duwan, mararka qaarna is khilaafsan oo tartamaya, waa inaan xeerarku kala caddayn. Dadka dembiyada gala waxa ay u leexin karaan nidaamka sharci si u dan ah iyaga oo kala dooranaya hadka nidaamka u danta ah ee ay ka helayaan natiijo u wanaagsan. Dadka dhibtu soo gaadho ma kala garan karaan meesha ay adeeg sharci ka doontaan, iyada oo mararka qaar aanay garan karinba in dembi laga galay. Tani waxa ay markaas dhashay in fullinta sharcigu noqoto mid aan habaysnayn, taas oo ay ka dhalatay in laga aamin baxo nidaamka sharci.

Xubno ka tirsan Golaha Wakiiladda Somaliland oo codaynaya.

Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Carruurta 

Geedi socodka diyaarina Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurtu waxa ay bilaabantay sannadkii 2014. Waxa ay qaadatay sanado badan in uu ka gudbo labada aqal ee Baarlamaanka Somaliland. Waxa uu ka kooban yahay xeerkani lix cutub: Qodobo guud, masuuliyadaha, xuquuqaha guud, daryeelka gaark ah, xaqa adeegga kaalmo sharci, iyo dembiyada iyo ciqaabaha. Xuquuqaha ku qoran Xeerka waxa ka mid ah xaqa jinsiyadda, magaca, iyo diiwaangelinta, xaqa nolosha iyo xaqa waxbarashada.

 Jilayaal kala duwan oo ay ka mid yihiin hogaamiyayaasha dhaqanka, hogaamiyayaasha diinta, ururada aan dawliga ahayn ee caalamiga ah iyo kuwa maxalliga ah iyo siyaasiyiin ayaa qayb ka ahaa diyaarinta Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurta. Xiisadda ka dhex jirta aragtiyaha kala duwan ee jilayaashaasi ay ka qabaan xuquuqal insaanka iyo sidoo kale nidaamka sharci ee badan ee Somaliland ka jira, waxa ay ka muuqdaan Xeerka dhexdiisa. Waxyaabaha muuqda waxa ka mid ah inay jiraan qabyo dhawr ah oo ka mid ah Xeerka oo aan waafaqsanayn nidaamka sharciga caalamiga ah ee u yaal ilaalinta xuquuqda carruurta ee ku astaysan Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta. Tusaale ahaan, Xeerku waxa uu ku qeexay caruur qofka ka yar 15 sannadoood (Mucahaadada Qaramada Midoobay waxa ay caruur ku qeexdaa qof ka yar18 jir). Sidoo kale Xeerku waa uu ka aamusay gudniinka hablaha iyo guurka carruuta. Waxa intaas dheer, Xeerku wax kama odhan sida iyo goobta lagu haynayo caruurta ay waalidkooda ama qoyskoodu ku tacadiyaan. 

Talaabo hore loo qaaday

Inkasta oo ay sidaas tahay, hadana Xeerkani waa sharci aad muhiim u ah dhawr sababood dartood. Ugu horayn, Xeerkani waxa uu caddaynayaa doonista hogaamiyayaasha siyaasadeed iyo bulsho ee ah inay sameeyaan xeer dawladeed oo ilaaliya xuquuqda carruurta. Arinkani waa muhiim sababta oo ah xuquuqda carruurtu kuma qorna dastuurka, sidaasdarteed waxa jira madhnaansho sharci. Dhinaca kale, inkasta oo xeer dhaqameedka iyo Shareecadu ay leeyihiin mabaadi ku saabsan caruurta, hadana xeer dhaqameedku ma qorna, Shareecaduna waxa ay ku qoran tahay kutub kala duwan iyo aragtiyaha fuqahada kala duwan.  Sidaasdarteed, xeer dawladeed oo ku saabsan xuquuqda carruurtu waxa uu buuxinayaa madhnaanshahaas oo waxa uu gacan ka gaysanayaa in la helo wax la isku waafaqsan yahay iyo xeer cad. Ta labaad, Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Carruutu waxa uu ku biirayaa Xeerka Garsoorka Caruurta, 2008, oo ah xeer horusocod ah marka xeerarka kale la barbar dhigo, kaas oo ku saabsan caruurta sharciga khilaafta. Marka la isku daro Xeerka Nidaamka Garsoorka iyo Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Carruurta, waxa ay abuurayaan nidaam sharci oo ay dadka xuquuqda u dooda iyo qareenadu ay ku tiirsanaadaan marka ay u doodyaan ilaalinta, ixtiraamka iyo bixinta xuquuqda carruurta.  Tusaale ahaan, Xeerka Nidaamka Garsoorka Carruurtu waxa uu ka ilaalinayaa carruurta da’doodu ka yar tahay 15 jir in lagu soo oogo dacwad ciqaab ah, halka Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Carruurtu ay ku jirto mabda’ ilaalinta danta u wanaagsan ee ilamaha marka la eegayo dhamaan arimaha khuseeya carruurta. Ta sadexaad, Xeerka Garsoorka Carruurta iyo Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurta waxa ay xigteen Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta. Tusaale ahaan qodobka 3aad ee Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurtu waxa uu sheegay in ujeedada xeerka inay ka mid tahay ilaalinta caruurta si waafaqsan Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta. In xeer dawladeed uu aqoonsado Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta waa talaabo muhiim ah oo xagga hore loo qaaday, marka la eego in Somaliland aanay xubin ka ahayn mucaahadada iyo in aan lagu dersin xaaladda Somaliland hababka ay dejisay Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta.   

Maxaa xiga?

Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurtu waa xeer aad iyo aad muhiim u ah. Maadaama oo uu yahay xeer dawladeed waxa uu kala caddaynayaa sharci ahaan xuquuqda caruurta. Waxa intaas dheer, waa xeer helay ogolaanshaha jilayaal kala duwan oo muhiim ka ah qaybaha sharci, siyaasadeed iyo bulsho ee Somaliland oo qayb ka ahaa diyaarinta Xeerkan. Haseyeeshee, nidaamka sharci ee ku xusan Xeerka Nidaamka Garsoorka iyo Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurtu weli ma gaadhsiisna xuquuqaha ku xusan Mucaahadada Qaramada Midoobay ee Xuquuqda Caruurta.  Arimaha dalka gudihiisa muranku ka jiro ee ay ka mid yihiin gudniinka hablaha iyo guurka caruurtu way ka maqan yihiin xeerka. Ugu danbayntii Xeerka Ilaalinta Xuquuqda Caruurta waxa la ansixiyay dhowaan oo weli waa la arki doonaa in qodobada ku jira si habboon loo fuliyo. Gebogebadu waxa ay tahay in iyada oo muhiimadda Xeerkani ay tahay mid aan la yaraysan karin, hadana waa in aan loo arag in Somaliland si dhamaystiran u gaadhay geedigii ay ku ilaalinayso xuquuqda caruurta, balse waa talaabo muhiim ah oo loo qaaday jihada saxda ah.

You can read this blog in Somali here / Halkan waxa aad ka akhriyi kartaa maqaalkan oo af Soomaali ah

The significance of Somaliland’s new
Child Rights Protection Act (English version) 

24 January 2023 - By Guleid Ahmed Jama

In October 2022, the President of Somaliland signed the Child Rights Protection Act (CPA). This blog post discusses the significance of the CPA in protecting children’s rights in Somaliland, a country which due to its contested status is unable to ratify multilateral international human rights treaties.

Legislating human rights in Somaliland

Somaliland declared its independence from Somalia in 1991. It has independent institutions – a government, a police force, a military, judges, and lawyers – but is currently not recognised by any other states. Somaliland’s contested status has consequences for the protection of human rights, including children’s rights. In recognised states, human rights are protected by way of international human rights treaties that they are party to. International treaties are one of the most important sources of international human rights law. However, while there are procedures that enable unrecognised states to become party to these treaties, this is a complicated process. In practice, the lack of recognition of Somaliland means that it cannot become a party to any international human rights treaties. Somaliland is not a party to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) or any other international human rights treaty. Consequently, people living in Somaliland are not protected by international human rights law. For the legal protection of their rights, they can turn only to the domestic laws of Somaliland. In this regard, a complicating factor is Somaliland’s plural legal system which consists of: Xeer (customary law), Sharia law and formal law. Sharia is Islamic law derived from the Quran (the Islamic holy script), Sunna (the teachings and actions of Prophet Mohamed), Ijma (consensus), Qiyas (analogy) and Urf (custom). Xeer is an unwritten law (passed on orally between generations) and is based on the precedence of cases adjudicated and decided by assigned clan elders (Guurti, Xeer-beegti in Somali language). Xeer is linked to the social organisation of Somali clans, which are tied together by founding ancestors. One consequence of these varied and, at times, contradictory and competing sources of law, is there is often a lack of legal clarity. Perpetrators can manipulate the legal system by picking and choosing the system that will give them the most favourable outcome. Victims are unsure of where to turn or sometimes whether a crime against them has even been committed. In turn, this leads to inconsistent enforcement of the law resulting in a lack of trust in the legal system. 

Members of the House of Representative in Somaliland vote.
Photo credit: Abdirahim Mowlid Ismail​​.

The CPA

The CPA’s drafting process started in 2014 and took several years to pass through Somaliland's bicameral parliament. It consists of six chapters: general provisions, responsibilities, children’s rights, special care of children, right to free legal aid and crimes and punishments. The rights enshrined in the Act include, inter alia, the right to nationality, name and registration, life, and education.

Many actors, including traditional leaders, religious leaders, international and local non-governmental organisations, and politicians, were involved in drafting the CPA. The tensions between the divergent views of these actors on human rights, as well as the plurality of Somaliland’s legal system, are evident in the CPA. Most notably, there are several aspects of the Act that do not meet international norms on the protection of children’s rights embodied in the CRC. For example, the CPA defines a child as a person aged under 15 (the CRC defines a child as a person aged under 18), and it is silent about female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. Additionally, the CPA does not address how and where to place children whose parents or families are abusive.

A Step Forward

That said, the CPA is still a landmark piece of legislation for several reasons. First, the CPA illustrates the willingness of the political and societal leaders to legislate to protect children’s rights under formal law. This is important because the rights of children are not mentioned in the constitution and, as a result, there was a legal lacuna. Meanwhile, although Xeer and Sharia law have conceptions about children, in the case of Xeer these are not written and in the case of Sharia are scattered in different books and jurists’ opinions. Therefore, formal law concerning the rights of children fills a gap and helps establish both consensus and legal clarity. Second, the CPA joins the 2008 Juvenile Justice Law, a relatively progressive law pertaining to children’s rights in the criminal justice system. Combined, the Juvenile Justice Law and the CPA have created a tentative legal framework for activists and lawyers to rely on when advocating for protecting, respecting, and realising children’s rights. For instance, the Juvenile Justice Law protects children under 15 years from criminal prosecution, and CPA endorses the principle of the best interest of the child on all matters related to children. Third, both the Juvenile Justice Law and the CPA cite the CRC. For example, Article 3 of the CPA states that the objectives of the CPA include the protection of children in accordance with the CRC. Recognising the CRC by way of formal national laws is a significant step forward, considering that Somaliland is not a member of it and is not scrutinised through the reporting mechanism of the CRC.  

What Next?

The CPA is a landmark piece of legislation. As a formal law, it helps provide legal clarity about children’s rights. Moreover, it has received the mandate of a wide array of actors in Somaliland’s legal, political, and societal landscape who were involved in drafting it. Nonetheless, the framework provided by the Juvenile Justice Law and CPA still falls short of the rights provided by the CRC. Domestically contentious issues such as a prohibition on FGM and child marriage remain conspicuously absent. Finally, as the CPA was only recently enacted into law, it remains to be seen whether its provisions are effectively enforced. To conclude, while the importance of the CPA cannot be understated, it should not be viewed as the end point in Somaliland’s endeavours to protect the rights of children but rather a crucial first step in the right direction.

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