Somali Human Rights Minister Meets UN Official in Geneva to Strengthen Cooperation

GENEVA, Switzerland — Somalia’s Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, met a senior United Nations human rights official in Geneva to discuss strengthening cooperation between the Somali government and the UN human rights office, her ministry said.

Al-Makhzoumi held talks with Awa Dabo, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), during a meeting focused on human rights cooperation and international support for Somalia.

The discussions centred on ways to deepen collaboration between Somalia’s federal government and OHCHR, particularly in strengthening efforts to promote and protect human rights in the country.

The two sides also discussed efforts to establish an OHCHR office in Somalia and the importance of such a presence in strengthening national institutions, supporting human rights initiatives and expanding technical cooperation between Somalia and the United Nations.

The establishment of an OHCHR presence in Somalia has been presented as part of broader efforts to strengthen national capacity on human rights issues and improve cooperation between Somali institutions and international partners.

During the meeting, Al-Makhzoumi thanked OHCHR for its continued support and cooperation with the Somali government.

She reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to expanding international cooperation and advancing efforts to promote and protect human rights in Somalia.

The meeting comes as Somalia continues to work with international partners on institutional development, governance and human rights protection. The country has sought greater national capacity to address human rights concerns while strengthening its engagement with UN agencies and other international organisations.

Al-Makhzoumi was accompanied by the ministry’s Director General, Mohamed Bashir Omar, as well as experts and advisers from the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development.

The Geneva meeting formed part of the Somali government’s wider engagement with international institutions on human rights and institutional development. It also highlighted the government’s efforts to strengthen cooperation with OHCHR and secure additional technical support for national human rights mechanisms.

No specific timeline for the establishment of the OHCHR office in Somalia was given in the statement following the meeting.

Somalia has been working with the United Nations and other international partners on a range of human rights issues, including strengthening institutions, improving legal frameworks and supporting mechanisms designed to protect fundamental rights.