New Programme Aims to Boost Women in Somalia’s Justice Sector

GOOBJOOG NEWS | MOGADISHU: The Justice and Constitutional Affairs ministry has welcomed six young women selected from federal institutions to participate in a new legal empowerment and internship programme aimed at increasing women’s representation in the country’s justice sector.

The six participants were received at the ministry’s headquarters in Mogadishu by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Faisal Adan Hassan, as they prepare to begin an 11-month training and professional development programme.

The initiative, known as the Legal Empowerment and Internship Programme for Women in Somalia, will run from June 2026 to May 2027 and provide training, mentorship and workplace experience to 34 women selected from across the country.

Ministry officials say the programme is designed to equip participants with practical legal skills while creating pathways for more women to enter and advance within Somalia’s justice institutions.

The programme forms part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Justice and the Joint Justice and Corrections Programme (JJCP) to implement the goals of Somalia’s Justice Sector Strategy 2025–2029, which seeks to strengthen access to justice, improve institutional capacity and promote greater inclusion of women in the legal profession.

Women’s participation in Somalia’s justice sector has gradually increased in recent years, though female representation remains limited in many legal and judicial institutions. International partners and Somali authorities have repeatedly highlighted the importance of expanding opportunities for women in leadership and decision-making roles as part of wider state-building and governance reforms.

The latest initiative comes as Somalia continues efforts to modernize its legal and judicial systems, with reforms aimed at improving service delivery, strengthening the rule of law and ensuring greater inclusivity across public institutions.

The officials stated that the programme is expected to help develop a new generation of female legal professionals capable of contributing to the country’s ongoing justice and governance reforms.