In 2024, the Somaliland National Human Rights Commission (SLNHRC) drove transformative progress in justice and human rights, delivering tangible improvements for vulnerable populations across the region. With support from the Joint Rule of Law Program, a joint initiative of UNDP in collaboration with UNODC, UN Women, and UNTMIS, the Commission expanded access to justice, strengthened rights-based policing, and ensured legal protections for marginalized groups. Key milestones included free legal aid for nearly 1,500 individuals, systemic reforms in detention facilities, and innovative trainings bridging law enforcement and communities. These efforts have helped strengthen the justice system and ensure that all citizens, particularly women and marginalized groups, have better access to protection and legal support.

In this interview with UNDP's Kamal and Ilyas on 22 April 2025 at his office in Hergaisa, Mr. Abdisamad Sa'ad, Executive Director of the Somaliland National Human Rights Commission, reflects on the Commission's role in these transformative developments, sharing insights into the programs and their impact on the people of Somaliland.

Q: As the Executive Director of the Commission, you played a key role in the design and implementation the EU-funded rule of law programme to promote inclusive, equitable, accountable, and responsive institutions in Somaliland. Looking back at 2024, what do you see as the most outstanding achievement?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: One of the most impactful achievements in 2024 was providing free legal aid and representation to nearly 1,500 vulnerable and marginalized individuals across Somaliland. What makes this especially significant is that more than 70% of those we helped were women and children--people who often have the least access to justice. This was made possible through our strong partnership with UNDP, with financial support from the European Union. For many, this support was life-changing, enabling them to defend their rights in a system that can often feel inaccessible.

Q: Your work falls under the broader rule of law program, going beyond the legal aid. What exactly did that involve over the past year?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: Throughout 2024, we focused on four interconnected areas: helping people access justice through legal aid and representation, monitoring prisons and police stations to ensure rights are being respected, training police officers on human rights and community policing, and creating open dialogue between law enforcement institutions and the media. All of this was rooted in one core belief: that respect for human rights must be the foundation of any justice system.

Q: Let’s talk about the police training. What was the approach and what did you aim to achieve?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: Supported by the joint rule of law programme, the police training was aimed at equipping the police officers with knowledge on rights-based policing and human rights. First, we trained a select cohort of police officers and then those trained officers conducted second phase of the training to pass that knowledge on to others in their respective departments.

The trainings targeted police officers working in Sanaag, Saraar, Togdheer, Sahil, Awdal and Maroodijeh regional police departments. In total, these trainings equipped 157 officers, including 40 female officers, with the necessary knowledge and skills to uphold human rights principles, with a particular focus on child rights, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and community policing. These trainings focused heavily on protecting the rights of vulnerable groups, particularly women and children. We also emphasized community policing, ensuring that officers are not seen as distant enforcers, but as part of the communities they serve.

Q: Media freedom and law enforcement often have a complicated relationship. How did you address this?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: That relationship has often been tense, and we wanted to change that. So, we organized seven dialogue sessions that brought together police officers, prosecutors, judges, and journalists. These sessions gave all sides a chance to speak openly, clear misunderstandings, and build mutual respect. We focused especially on the rights of journalists and the role of freedom of expression in a democratic society. These were not just workshops, they were bridges being built between institutions that must find ways to work together.

Q: You also carried out extensive monitoring of prisons and police stations. What did you find?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: We were able to monitor nearly every police station and prison in Somaliland, only two are still pending. What we found was a mix of progress and a few concerns. We looked at everything from sanitation and health services to human rights and legal rights. One issue that stood out was the number of people who had served their full sentence but were still behind bars simply because they couldn’t pay court-imposed financial fines to the other civilian party involved in the case. We identified 199 such cases. After our intervention and recommendations, many of them have since been released. 

Though in a very small number, the study also found that some of the police stations were keeping accused individuals in detention for longer than 48 hours without presenting them to the court. After our study, we issued a recommendation to the government address this concern, which was well taken by the government. We are monitoring the implementation of the recommendation. 

Similarly, the study also revealed that, in some regions, individuals held in police stations were often denied access to legal representation, unlike those in prisons who could meet their lawyers. This was a clear violation of constitutional rights. In response, we educated police officers on the legal obligation to ensure that all detainees, whether in police custody or prison, must be granted access to their lawyers. We have found the police stations have responded to our call positively and corrected their practices.

Q: Earlier, you shared about a substantive legal aid programme. What kind of legal aid did the Commission provide?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: Most vulnerable people in Somaliland cannot afford legal representation. At the start of the year, we only had two lawyers. But with support from the Joint Rule of Law Programme funded by the European Union, we expanded to five lawyers and brought in additional paralegals separately funded by the Commission. These paralegals went into communities — including IDP camps and police stations — collected cases, and passed them on to the lawyers for legal processing. Our lawyers provided legal advice, mediation, or full representation in court when needed by the people identified through the study. People in need also reach out to our free legal aid department by themselves on a daily basis. As mentioned above, we supported nearly 1,500 people, over 70% of them women. Many of them were facing serious legal issues, whether criminal charges, civil disputes, or family conflicts. Some needed a lawyer to stand up for them in court, while others just needed someone to help mediate or explain their rights. For many of these people, especially women and internally displaced persons, this was the first time they had meaningful access to justice. 

Q: Looking back, how would you describe the broader impact of your work last year?

Abdisamad Sa’ad: It was a year of real progress. Not just in numbers, but in the depth of impact. We helped individuals stand up for their rights, brought institutions together for candid dialogue, and helped shift the justice system closer to the people it is meant to serve. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished, and we know it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners, particularly the European Union and UNDP. But this is just the beginning. Our goal is to continue building a society where justice is not a privilege, it’s a right for everyone.