Children's Legal Defense Center

Children's Legal Defense Center We're putting human rights into action to get imprisoned children home in Somaliland.

The Children's Legal Defense Center is a nonprofit legal assistance organization in Hargeisa, Somaliland that defends wrongfully and unjustly imprisoned children.

With the proliferation of AI, it is becoming harder and harder to know what is real.Is the photo or video we are looking...
07/09/2026

With the proliferation of AI, it is becoming harder and harder to know what is real.

Is the photo or video we are looking at—or the story we are reading—real?

At the Children's Legal Defense Center, there's no doubt that our impact is real.

Take 12-year-old Hibaaq. She was arrested and detained for fighting, even though she was too young for criminal punishment under Somaliland law. CLDC Staff Lawyer Nimco took her case, challenged her detention, and secured an order for her release.

And Hibaaq is one of many. In August alone, CLDC took on the cases of 51 children, secured the release of 22, and won shorter prison sentences for another 12.

This is real.

To everyone who helps make this work possible: thank you.

📷 Hibaaq with CLDC Staff Lawyer Nimco after her release.

In June, CLDC helped secure the release of 14-year-old Suhaib after he spent 24 nights in detention.Now, only weeks late...
06/08/2026

In June, CLDC helped secure the release of 14-year-old Suhaib after he spent 24 nights in detention.

Now, only weeks later, he has been arrested again—and CLDC is standing beside him once more.

Human rights protection is not a one-time intervention. It means responding quickly, examining every arrest, and ensuring that a child does not face the justice system alone.

In June and July, CLDC secured the release of 48 children. We also helped reduce six prison sentences.

Your support allows us to keep showing up—for Suhaib and for every child whose liberty, safety, and future are at stake.

This is what putting human rights into action looks like.

https://goto.gg/67430

15/07/2026

🏔️ She did it!

CLDC Board Member Lizzie Walker has reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro!

Over the past two weeks, many of you have followed Lizzie's incredible journey up Africa's highest mountain. Every step she took was in support of children and young adults in Somaliland who need legal representation, protection, and someone standing beside them when their rights are at risk.

Lizzie, thank you for your determination, generosity, and commitment to CLDC's mission. We couldn't be more proud.

Today also marks the start of GlobalGiving's July Bonus Day—the perfect opportunity to celebrate Lizzie's incredible achievement. Eligible donations between $100 and $1,500 help CLDC earn a larger share of GlobalGiving's $150,000 Incentive Fund, allowing your gift to have an even greater impact.

If you've been following Lizzie's journey and have been thinking about making a gift, today is the perfect day.

💙 Join Lizzie in supporting CLDC:
https://goto.gg/f/88752

Congratulations, Lizzie! We're so proud of you. 🎉

09/07/2026

🏔️ An update from Mount Kilimanjaro!

CLDC Board Member Lizzie Walker is halfway to the summit and sent us this update from the mountain.

Step by step, she is making her way up Africa’s highest peak to raise funds for children and young adults in Somaliland.

At CLDC, we know change happens the same way—one step, one child, one case at a time.

Because of supporters like you, our lawyers are in court every day standing beside children who would otherwise face the justice system alone.

Thank you for cheering Lizzie on.

Next stop: the summit! 💙

Join Lizzie in supporting CLDC:
https://goto.gg/f/88752

🏔️ She’s off!CLDC Board Member Lizzie Walker has officially started her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for th...
05/07/2026

🏔️ She’s off!

CLDC Board Member Lizzie Walker has officially started her climb up Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for the Children’s Legal Defense Center.

Over the coming days, Lizzie will make her way toward the summit of Africa’s highest mountain—taking each step in support of children and young adults in Somaliland who need legal representation, protection, and someone standing beside them.

We are so grateful to Lizzie for taking on this incredible challenge and to everyone who has already donated and cheered her on.

We’ll be sharing updates from the mountain as Lizzie makes her way toward the summit. Join us in wishing her luck! 💙

If you can and want to support CLDC’s work:

https://goto.gg/f/88752

30/06/2026

⛰️ An extraordinary challenge for an extraordinary cause.

On July 4, CLDC Board Member Lizzie Walker begins climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa's highest mountain, to raise funds for the Children's Legal Defense Center.

Lizzie is taking on this challenge because she believes every child deserves someone to stand beside them when their rights are at risk.

Since 2020, CLDC has helped more than 3,000 children and young adults in Somaliland and secured the release of over 2,000 from detention. Last month alone, our lawyers helped secure the release of 15 children from prison.

🎥 Before she begins her trek, Lizzie shares why she's climbing and why CLDC's work matters to her. Watch her story below.

If you can and want to support Lizzie's climb, we'd be incredibly grateful. Every donation helps us continue putting human rights into action.

💙 Donate here: https://goto.gg/f/88752

📅 Lizzie hopes to reach the summit around July 14, and her campaign will culminate on July 15 during GlobalGiving Bonus Day, when donations of $100 or more will receive bonus funds from GlobalGiving.

We'll be sharing updates from the mountain throughout her journey. Please join us in cheering Lizzie on!

29/06/2026

Grateful for the support from Giving Joy Grants that has enabled us to focus on defending girls in detention and helping them regain their freedom 🥰

In May, CLDC helped secure the release of 15 children from prison in Somaliland.Behind every release is a child reunited...
03/06/2026

In May, CLDC helped secure the release of 15 children from prison in Somaliland.

Behind every release is a child reunited with family, a future protected, and a reminder that legal representation can change lives.

Thank you to everyone who supports our work. Your generosity helps make justice possible for children who would otherwise face the system alone.

Fourteen-year-old Hayaad traveled alone from Ethiopia to Somaliland seeking work. Instead, she was arrested while travel...
01/06/2026

Fourteen-year-old Hayaad traveled alone from Ethiopia to Somaliland seeking work. Instead, she was arrested while traveling by bus and found herself detained far from home, separated from her family, and without anyone to advocate for her.

CLDC took her case and secured her release.

But release was not enough.

Hayaad was stranded in Somaliland, pregnant, and without the means to return home. When authorities and international agencies declined to assist, CLDC stepped in. We arranged transportation, provided food for her journey, accompanied her to the bus station, and ensured she was safely on her way back to her family in Ethiopia.

For us, justice is about more than winning cases. It is about making sure children are not abandoned when the legal case ends.

This is what putting human rights into action looks like.

Your support makes stories like Hayaad's possible.

❤️ Donate today: https://www.cldcsl.org/donate

Five imprisoned teenagers will now go home sooner because they had legal representation.Muhyadin, Abdilahi, Mohamed, Mah...
20/05/2026

Five imprisoned teenagers will now go home sooner because they had legal representation.

Muhyadin, Abdilahi, Mohamed, Mahad, and Abdirahman were accused of stealing a phone and were facing potential prison sentences of 3 years. CLDC lawyers represented them in court and successfully argued for reduced sentences of 1.5 years instead.

For children in Somaliland’s justice system, having a lawyer can dramatically change the outcome of a case. It can mean less time in prison, fairer treatment, and a quicker return home to family and community.

Because of your support, these boys did not face the justice system alone.

Thank you for helping make justice real for imprisoned children in Somaliland.

Address

Hargeisa

Opening Hours

Monday 08:00 - 16:00
Tuesday 08:00 - 16:00
Wednesday 08:00 - 16:00
Thursday 08:00 - 13:00
Saturday 08:00 - 13:00
Sunday 08:00 - 16:00

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