By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 20 November 2025 — Somalia has launched its first national child emergency helpline, providing children with a direct channel to report abuse, violence and situations of imminent danger.
The helpline, which operates through the short code 116, was inaugurated by Minister of Family and Human Rights Development Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi and is designed to offer free, immediate assistance to children and their families across the country.
In a statement shared on her official Facebook page, Wednesday, the minister said the service enables Somali children to reach out directly when facing abuse or feeling unsafe.
“Today I inaugurated the Child Emergency Assistance Centre, which the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development has established so that Somali children can contact it immediately when they experience abuse or feel in danger,”
Al-Makhzoumi said.
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She added that the centre, the first of its kind in Somalia, forms part of wider efforts to strengthen child protection and ensure the safety and wellbeing of children, noting that both children and parents can access the service free of charge.
The launch comes as Somalia marks the 10th anniversary of its formal accession to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the country signed in November 2015 under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud.
The initiative also comes amid continued concern over the scale of child rights violations in the country.
According to the latest UNICEF data, 1,930 grave violations against children were officially recorded in Somalia between January and September 2024, affecting 1,478 children, including 1,057 boys and 421 girls.
The figures highlight persistent risks faced by children and the urgent need for reliable reporting and protection mechanisms.
