By Asha Elmi - Reporter
Somalia, 10 December 2025 – The United Nations on Wednesday urged Somalia to sustain momentum on human rights reforms, welcoming several “important steps” taken this year.
In a statement marking Human Rights Day, James Swan, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, said the government had taken “key steps” in 2025, including organising the National Human Rights Summit and advancing the establishment of the National Independent Human Rights Commission.
The UN also noted as a “significant achievement” the removal of the Somali National Army and Somali Police Force from the UN Secretary-General’s list of parties that recruit and use children in armed conflict — a development reflecting years of work by the government and its partners.
Despite the progress, the UN warned that Al-Shabaab remains responsible for the majority of human rights violations in the country, including killings, abductions, and attacks on civilians, aid workers and government institutions.
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Human Rights Day is observed annually on December 10, marking the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
The UN statement came as President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the law formally establishing the Independent National Human Rights Commission. The move follows Somalia’s October restoration of national control over human rights oversight, reaffirming the state’s authority in safeguarding rights nationwide.
