Mohamed Osman Naastaro, Somalia's state minister for family and human rights development, told the 2026 Forum on Global Human Rights Governance on Friday that resilience and sustainability are central to his country's path forward.
Marking the 40th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Right to Development, the two-day event, which opened on Thursday, focuses on advancing human rights through development and will foster discussions on global human rights governance issues. Over 400 participants from over 100 countries and international organizations, including the United Nations (UN) were in attendance.
"For Somalia, the path to progress is unique. We are a nation built on the resiliency of our people, a people who have faced hardship with incredible strength. Today I wish to speak on the vital link between green development and the protection of human rights. In Somalia's context, green development is not a choice, it is a fundamental human right and necessity for our future," he said.
The state minister emphasized that Somalia's vision of green development goes beyond policy, framing it as a fundamental human right tied directly to livelihoods, dignity, and the future of its people.
"Green development in Somalia means shifting from emergency aid to long-term resilience. We are proud of new initiatives such as the Activating Climate-Resilient Agricultural Livelihoods in Somalia (ACALS) program. This project is a clear example of our commitment to our people. By investing in drought-resistant crops, moderation, irrigation, and better water management, this program gives our farmers and our pastoralists the tools to stand on their own feet. This especially prioritizes the empowerment of our youth and women training traditional farming into sustainable business. For us, green development is the right to work, the right to feed one's family, and the right to live in clean, healthy environment. We are transforming our traditional knowledge of the land into modern sustainable solutions that protect the rights of the next generation," said Naastaro.
Somalia links green development to human rights at global forum
