Situation of Somali Youth

Among the youth many have known nothing but conflict and hardship for most of their lives. Many children and youth have suffered displacement and have observed, experienced and sometimes participated in violence. A majority have never experienced normal, stable social relationships and systems of governance. Since the deterioration of the educational system during the conflict period many youth in the teenage age range have never been to school, and are illiterate or only semi-literate. Lack of optimism about the possibilities the future holds for them is common among this group.

There are growing categories of vulnerable children who are in need of special care and protection including:

1. Those that have been displaced within the country, such as people driven from their homes by conflict, drought, floods, or other factors;
2. Children from minority groups, the very poor, orphans, disabled children, working children;
3. Children living on the streets and children in conflict with the law.

Girls are especially disadvantaged in most of these categories. Gender discrimination is deeply rooted in the traditional socio-cultural structures of Somali society and is a formidable barrier to women's participation in decision-making and access to resources.

In Somalia’s fragmented environment, children and women continue to be the most vulnerable groups with their rights to survival, protection, development and participation consistently violated. Absence of meaningful participation by a critical mass of Somali children and women has deprived them of the opportunity to contribute to social development initiatives.

Beyond deprivation, this has manifested itself in a range of abuses, violations and both petty and large-scale tyranny, practiced for the most part with impunity. The spread of HIV/AIDS, the further perpetuation of violence, abuse, exploitation and discrimination against children, particularly girls, and the deepening disenfranchisement of young people are among the high societal prices to be paid.

Children and youth the foremost victims
Children and youth are among the most vulnerable Somalis, and many have known nothing but conflict and hardship. Many have suffered displacement and have observed, experienced and sometimes participated in violence. A majority have never experienced normal, stable social relationships and systems of governance, had no opportunity for education, or have had their education interrupted. Many are exposed to weapons, khat (a plant stimulant) chewing and other social ills.

This isolation has resulted in the formation of loose youth groups that are struggling to express their need to be involved in community development activities. Among them are growing categories of children who are in need of special care and protection. These categories include the internally displaced, children from minority groups, the very poor, orphans, disabled children, working children, children living in the streets, militia children and children in conflict with the law. Girls are especially disadvantaged in most of these categories.

However, rather than being seen as marginalized or disaffected, youth can be powerful catalysts for rights-based demand creation and, with practical assistance, can become agents for community empowerment.

Adopting a human rights-based approach to programming implicates humanitarian agencies to strengthening and better integrating programme outreach, to effectively support young voices in expressing and articulating their human rights requirements at all levels of society.