Silenced Screams: The hidden crisis of child rape in Puntland, Somalia

Introduction and summary.

This is a young girl named *Faduma, just 13 years old, who lives with the memory of a traumatic event that continues to shape her daily life. She is one of many girls in Puntland who have experienced gender-based violence (GBV), yet her case, like countless others, was never reported to the authorities. Her silence and that of her family stem not from indifference but from deeply rooted societal stigma, fears of retaliation, and lack of faith in formal justice systems.

Faduma’s experience reflects a broader, disturbing trend in Puntland, where survivors of sexual abuse, particularly children, are often pressured into silence. In many instances, families are persuaded to resolve such cases through informal mechanisms such as clan-based mediation or compensation agreements. While culturally embedded, these practices frequently deny survivors access to justice, mental health support, and the chance to heal in a safe environment.

This report seeks to expose the underlying social, cultural, and systemic barriers that prevent children like Faduma from receiving the protection and justice they deserve. It draws from interviews with civil society leaders, legal actors, and community elders, and examines how reliance on traditional dispute resolution often prioritizes family honor or clan cohesion over the rights and well-being of the child.

The findings reveal an urgent need for strengthening formal child protection frameworks, promoting survivor-centered legal processes, and equipping frontline actors such as police, teachers, health workers, and religious leaders with training in child safeguarding and ethical response. Only through coordinated action and policy reform can Puntland begin to reverse the harmful patterns that continue to silence its most vulnerable children.

*Name changed to protect the child’s identity and in accordance with safeguarding standards. 

Child Testimony: Faduma (name changed), as relayed by a child protection officer

Faduma*, a 13-year-old girl from the Bari region, is one of many children receiving support from local child protection services. Her case, like several others in the area, was brought to light not through official channels, but through the quiet intervention of a trained child protection officer working closely with the community.

The officer noted that Faduma had experienced a serious protection concern within her neighborhood. Due to fear of stigma and limited trust in formal legal systems, her family chose not to report the case to local authorities. Instead, they opted to resolve it through traditional community structures.

According to the officer, Faduma has been withdrawn from school and shows signs of emotional distress, including difficulty concentrating and reluctance to speak in group settings. She has since been referred to a psychosocial support program facilitated by a local NGO, and efforts are underway to support her return to school in a safe and protected environment.

Faduma’s case is a reflection of the broader challenges facing many girls in Puntland, where social norms and gaps in formal child protection systems often leave children without the protection and justice they deserve. Her story underscores the importance of strengthening formal reporting mechanisms, expanding access to child-friendly services, and building trust between communities and protection institutions.

Name changed to protect the child's identity. All testimonies were collected in accordance with child safeguarding and ethical standards.

Community elder voice: Preference for Out-of-Court Settlements Due to Stigma

Ugas Mire, a respected clan elder in the Bari region, acknowledged that many families facing child protection cases, particularly those involving abuse, often prefer to resolve matters through traditional or community-based mechanisms rather than reporting them to the formal justice system.

“Families often prefer out-of-court settlements due to shame,” he explained. “They worry about their reputation, about how others in the community will view them, and whether their daughter will be accepted in the future.”

In Puntland, as in many parts of Somalia, traditional justice systems hold significant social legitimacy; elders and religious leaders are often seen as the first point of recourse for resolving issues and disputes. While this approach can provide quick resolutions and social agreement, it also has serious limitations when it comes to protecting the rights of children, especially in cases involving gender-based violence or exploitation.

Ugas Mire noted that in many cases, the priority is on reconciling families and preventing public scandal, rather than ensuring accountability or supporting the child’s long-term well-being. “It’s not that we don’t care about the child,” he said. “It’s that our culture values forgiveness, and people fear what formal court processes might bring.”

Civil society organizations argue that while elders can play a supportive role, the justice system must be the primary channel for handling cases involving children. Without formal accountability, perpetrators may go unpunished, and survivors may not receive the medical, psychological, or legal support they need.

Elders like Mire are increasingly being engaged by child protection networks to become advocates for change within their own communities, helping to bridge the gap between traditional values and child rights-based protection frameworks.

Civil society voice: Call for regal reform and child-friendly reporting pathways

Ifrah Abdinur is an Executive Director of Puntland’s Midnimo Women Network-MWN, has expressed her deep concern over the growing number of unresolved child protection cases in the region, particularly those related to gender-based violence. She emphasized that while the existence of child protection laws in Puntland is a positive step, enforcement remains inconsistent, and survivors often struggle to access justice.

“There is an urgent need for legal reform,” Ifrah stated. “The mediation of customary law by traditional elders in cases of child and women rape perpetuates a cycle of injustice. It is a fundamental right, and we cannot be compromised by tradition. It is the government's responsibility to ensure that all victims receive justice and protection under the law. We must stand united against this injustice and demand accountability.”

She stressed that child-friendly reporting mechanisms are essential to ensure children feel safe and supported when disclosing abuse. This includes having trained child protection officers, dedicated help desks at police stations, and legal staff who are skilled in interviewing children without causing further psychological harm.

Ifrah also highlighted that traditional mediation can get the situation worse, “In cases of child and women rape, traditional mediation can lead to further victimization. This is not merely a cultural issue; it is a violation of human rights. The government must take responsibility, ensuring that justice is accessible and that every individual is safeguarded from harm”.

To address these issues, the child rights protection organizations and women’s rights, working closely with local authorities and international partners, must advocate for:

· The creation of child protection units in police stations across Puntland

· The expansion of mobile legal aid clinics in rural and underserved areas

· Ongoing training for law enforcement and judiciary personnel on child safeguarding standards

“Without a safe, accessible path to justice, many children will remain silent, and perpetrators will continue to walk free,” Ifrah warned. “We must put the best interests of the child at the center of our response always.”

Legal actor: Only a fraction of cases reach prosecution

A local prosecutor working within the Bosaso district justice system confirmed a troubling statistic: fewer than 1 in 10 cases of sexual violence involving minors proceed to full prosecution. While many cases are reported informally through community networks or to local NGOs, very few make it through the entire legal process from initial complaint to courtroom ruling.

“There are significant barriers to prosecution,” the prosecutor explained. “Families often withdraw cases due to fear of social backlash, pressure from community elders, or economic incentives to settle the matter privately. In some instances, the families of the survivor and the alleged perpetrator are encouraged to resolve the issue through traditional means rather than through the courts.”

In addition to social pressures, the prosecutor cited structural weaknesses within the legal system, including:

1. Limited forensic and medical evidence-gathering capacity, especially in rural areas

2. Delays in investigation and case preparation

3. A shortage of trained personnel who can handle child-sensitive procedures

4. Inadequate witness protection mechanisms, which discourage families from pursuing justice

The lack of child-friendly courts and trauma-informed legal processes also plays a role. “Children are often asked to testify in intimidating environments without proper support. This alone can lead to cases collapsing due to lack of consistent testimony,” the prosecutor added.

Efforts are underway to improve coordination between justice sector institutions and child protection actors. However, the prosecutor emphasized that strengthening legal frameworks, investing in specialized GBV and child protection units, and ensuring that survivors have access to legal aid and psychosocial support are critical steps to reversing this trend.

“Every time a case is dropped or settled informally, we send a message that children’s rights are negotiable,” the prosecutor said. “We need to shift that message towards protection, accountability, and justice.”

Puntland remains trapped in a cycle where the legal infrastructure to protect children and prosecute sexual abuse exists, but is not utilized much. Harm is compounded by procedural failures, cultural pressures, and unethical reporting that further silence victims.

Lastly, this report highlights the urgent need for structural reforms and multi-sectoral collaboration to address the rising cases of child abuse and gender-based violence in Puntland. A key recommendation is the strengthening of Child Protection Units (CPUs) within police stations. These units must be staffed and promoted with specially trained officers capable of handling child-related cases with sensitivity, confidentiality, and adherence to child safeguarding protocols. Establishing dedicated interview rooms, child-friendly reception areas, and survivor follow-up systems is essential to encourage reporting and prevent retraumatization.

In parallel, health facilities across Puntland must be equipped and develop existing ones with trauma and mental health response units that can deliver immediate medical care, psychosocial support, and forensic documentation. Medical staff should be trained in survivor-centered approaches and supported by clear referral pathways linking health services, legal actors, and child protection agencies. 

This article reports and also calls for:

1. Cross-sectoral coordination between police, judiciary, health, and social services

2. Legal aid and psychosocial support access for child survivors and their families

3. Community sensitization to reduce stigma and promote formal reporting mechanisms

4. Integration of GBV response protocols into primary health care facilities, especially in rural and underserved areas.

27 years after its establishment, Puntland remains in a cycle where laws and policies to protect children and prosecute sexual abuse exist but are rarely implemented. Despite the presence of a legal framework, weak enforcement, lack of accountability, and limited political will continue to undermine efforts to safeguard children.

By implementing the recommended measures, Puntland has an opportunity to break this cycle and take meaningful steps toward building a responsive, accountable, and child-centered protection system, one that not only upholds the rights and dignity of every child but also ensures justice, safety, and long-term well-being for future generations.