MOGADISHU (SD) -The Minister of Defense, Abdikadir Mohamed Nur, met today with the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Catriona Laing, and the UNICEF Representative, Wafaa Said.

Abdukadir Mohamed Nur emphasized the importance of the Somali government’s efforts in combating child recruitment, particularly by armed groups, and other abuses faced by children.

The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative and the UNICEF Representative commended the efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia in protecting children’s rights.

They stressed the significance of preventing children’s recruitment into the armed forces and urged the enforcement of laws protecting children’s rights and the prosecution of those violating such laws.

Somalia is among the countries where children are heavily recruited into the armed forces and subjected to various forms of exploitation, with international human rights bodies often condemning both the government and the Al-Shabaab group for recruiting and exploiting many children in conflicts.