Human Rights and Democracy - Official Documents

Children’s rights
Children, particularly those living in southern and central Somalia, continued to live in
extremely challenging environments. The percentage of children receiving education
across Somalia, including Somaliland, remained extremely low. In southern and
central Somalia, al-Shabaab continued to interfere in school curriculums and
introduced mandatory lessons in jihad.
The ongoing conflict in and around the capital, Mogadishu, had severe
repercussions for children. The UN cited al-Shabaab, Hizb-ul Islam, the Transitional
Federal Government, Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jama’a and other militia groups as recruiting
and using child soldiers. In particular, al-Shabaab systematically recruited child
soldiers from schools in areas under its control and was reported to be training an
estimated 2,000 children in camps in southern Somalia. The Transitional Federal
Government was also accused of using child soldiers in its armies, though when the
international community made representations to the government in the early part of
2010, it was denied. The Transitional Federal Government has since pledged to
work towards an action plan to end the recruitment of child soldiers in Somalia.
Minorities and other discriminated groups
Many minority groups continue to face persecution in Somalia and minority religions
are heavily restricted. The clan structure is of great significance and importance in
Somalia and four main clans continue to dominate politics, the economy and urban
life. Minority clans are not proportionately represented in local and regional
governments.
Minority groups do not have the protection that the traditional clan structure affords.
They are therefore more exposed to marginalisation and victimisation. During 2010,
they suffered abuse at the hands of local governments as well as members of more
dominant clans. In southern Somalia, Bantus and Christians faced violent attacks
from al-Shabaab. Reports indicated that al-Shabaab beheaded a number of
Christians in 2010.
The situation in Somaliland and Puntland was better than in other regions as they
consist largely of one clan in each region: the Isaq in Somaliland and Darod in
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