Somalia has formally submitted its instrument of ratification for the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child to the African Union, marking a significant step in strengthening child protection frameworks in the Horn of Africa country.
Somalia’s Minister Of Family Affairs and Human Rights Development Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi submitted the document on Tuesday at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, underscoring the government’s commitment to safeguarding children’s rights.
Deputy Chief of Staff in the Cabinet of the African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Mohamed Omar received the ratification document in the presence of African Union Legal Counsel Hajer Gueldich.
The submission of the ratification instrument follows approval of the charter by Somalia’s Federal Parliament in September 2025 and earlier by Council of Ministers in November 2024, aligning the country with continental legal standards aimed at promoting and protecting child welfare.
Legally binding
“This is an important step toward strengthening the protection and promotion of children’s rights and reflects our commitment to the well-being of future generations,” Al-Makhzoumi said.
“I have today officially submitted to the African Union the instrument of ratification of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, which had already been approved by the federal government institutions of Somalia. This step reflects Somalia’s commitment to the implementation of this Charter and our determination to protect and promote the rights of children,” the minister said.
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), adopted by the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1990, entered into force in 1999. It is the African Union’s key legally binding treaty on children’s rights, providing a framework addressing child welfare issues across Africa.
Somalia had previously signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2015, as part of broader efforts to ensure protection of children.
