Somalia Human Development Report 2012: Empowering youth for peace and development

Somalia Human Development Report 2012: Empowering youth for peace and development


This new report - based on surveys conducted in more than 3,000 households in south central Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland and had extensive input from ILO in the editorial phase looking at what must be done to address issues identified - reveals that although the majority of Somali youth believe they have a right to be educated (82%) and a right to decent work (71%), they feel disempowered by multiple structural barriers built into the family, institutions, local government and society at–large.

This lack of viable education and employment opportunities – in addition to clan and cultural prejudices – has created a high level of frustration and discontentment among young people. Therefore, radical shifts in policies and attitudes are needed in order to empower and place them at the core of the development agenda. The Decent Work agenda continues to resonate and require action is one comment heard from Somali government officials on reviewing the report