In Somalia, tradition based cultural barriers challenge promotion of human rights such marriage (early marriage and interaction or marginalized people marriage), employment and opportunity for women to have say in the political arena.

Also it is easy sometimes to think that the rights of persons have little to do, but everyone has the same rights and they can never be taken away, no matter who the person is, or what he/she may have done.

Under international human rights law, no one can be violated his/her rights without a legitimate reason and, anyone accused of a crime has the right to a fair trial. But in Somalia throughout decades, no proper legal process was followed and no safeguards were in place: such as independent doctor on-hand to examine detainees, lawyers present during trail or no trail at all, and/or the practice of execution/killing without trial. Also discrimination strikes at the very heart of being human; it is treating someone differently simply because of who he/she is.

In addition cultural barriers cause human rights violations.

All human being have the right to be treated equally regardless of ethnicity, class, gender identity, age, health or other status.

But all too often we hear heart-breaking stories of people who suffer cruelty simply for belonging to a “different” group. Many people persecuted for making their own choices or they are from different group and many more are prevented from making any choices at all or violated their rights one way or another. Protection of the basic rights of Somali people promotes human rights, encourages economic growth and advances human dignity.

Key focus areas.

Human rights monitoring (documentation and investigation) and to get redress survivors of human rights violation

• Street and child soldier demobilization and reintegration
• Awareness raising on human rights and social justice in regard of minorities/marginalized people to get their rights and justice
• Protect migrants, refugees and IDPs
• Prevent SGBV/GBV and FGC.
• Legal Aid.Provision of Legal Aid for Vulnerable Groups in Southwest State and benadir was legal assistance provided by different target groups, including minority, women, children and economic deprived individuals.

Legal aid was very important as the main source of justice towards clients / stakeholders in Southwest State.

It was the only process of solving legal issues faced vulnerable groups in Southwest State; KAHRDO had achieved different cases that were processed from district and regional levels of different court decisions.

Vulnerable persons were suffering in the court therefore KAHRDO make intervention and assisted the most vulnerable to legal aid and received his/her court rights and also monitored Human Rights violations took place in police custody and in prison.

Somali had record of lawlessness / injustice towards judiciary system and it was first time to implement legal aid assistance in Southwest State.

Investigation Documentation Monitoring and Advocacy.

KAHRDO encountered challenges in the initial stages of carrying out the Investigation, Documentation, Monitoring and Advocacy; however, KAHRDO staff began rapport and confidence building within the community and/or survivors including female survivors for the time of data collection on the primary sources of information.

The data was our contribution to the status report on human rights in Somalia, which was annually consolidated by the G10 (group of Somali local NGOs) and taken to the UNHCHR sessions; nevertheless, the information was later disseminated nationally and internationally.