Somali Human Rights Association(SOHRA)

14/09/2026

We call on the European Union and European governments to take immediate action

We call upon European institutions and member state governments to:

urgently raise these arrests and raids with the Turkish authorities;closely monitor detention conditions and the ensuing legal proceedings;

demand respect for fundamental rights, particularly fair trial guarantees; mobilize available protection, legal assistance, and emergency mechanisms for the targeted individuals and organizations;

maintain and strengthen financial support for independent civil society organizations in Turkey;

reject any attempt to criminalize legitimate international funding or cooperation supporting human rights defense.

We call on LGBTI+ organizations and their allies in Europe

We call on LGBTI+ organizations, human rights defenders, and solidarity movements across Europe, as well as Council of Europe member states, to:

amplify the calls made by organizations and activists in Turkey; engage their own governments and European institutions; exert urgent political pressure on the Turkish authorities; mobilize concrete aid—legal, financial, and protective—when requested;
and, above all, follow the safety guidelines and address the needs expressed by those directly affected. Solidarity must not be limited to statements. It must now translate into political pressure and concrete support, in coordination with the LGBTI+ movement and civil society in Turkey.

We also call on international human rights organizations

We ask international organizations to:

activate their emergency alert and protection mechanisms;
document and monitor the arrests, detentions, and legal proceedings;

make their legal, advocacy, and protection resources available to the targeted organizations and defenders; ...and view this situation as a broader attack on freedom of association, freedom of expression, and the defense of human rights—rather than as an issue limited to LGBTI+ rights.
ECHR expresses its full solidarity with the organizations, activists, and human rights defenders currently being targeted in Turkey.

We will continue to monitor the situation and share verified information and urgent appeals from the organizations directly affected.

For more information, to share verified details, or to contact us regarding the situation of the LGBTIQ+ community in Turkey, please email: [email protected]

Turkey: at least 63 arrests in anti-LGBT+ crackdown – La Libre

10/08/2026

06/08/2026

Workshop on disarmament

06/08/2026

Series workshop on Disarmament

21/07/2026

The World War I, which is considered the second most destructive war in human history, began with an individual named Gavrilo Princip. Gavrilo was a young, brave student who lived in Serbia and was denied entry into the Serbian army due to his short height. Refusing to yield, he went out of his way to prove his bravery.
A Visit That Changed the World
On July 28, 1914, while the heir to the throne of the Austrian Empire, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife were visiting Sarajevo, the young Gavrilo Princip seized the opportunity to prove himself. The young student assassinated the couple, setting off a chain of events that culminated in a full-scale World War.
The Austrian Empire, in a move to demand justice, demanded to send inspectors to investigate the assassination and its perpetrators. Since Gavrilo was a citizen of Serbia, Austria directed its requests to Serbia. However, Serbia refused Austria's demands. Outraged by this refusal, the Austrian Empire declared war on Serbia.

A Ripple Effect
This declaration of war angered Russia, which considered Serbia an ally. Russia promptly declared war on the Austrian Empire. Russia's actions, in turn, infuriated Germany, a key ally of Austria, and the German government responded by declaring war on Russia.
France, a staunch ally of Russia, was further outraged by Germany's actions. In response, France declared war on Germany. Germany, intending to attack France, launched an invasion of Belgium, a neutral nation. Belgium and Britain, which were allies and shared a commitment to neutrality, was deeply distressed by Germany's invasion of Belgium. In response, Britain declared war on Germany.

A Conflict Reaching Global Proportions
This sequence of events also angered the Ottoman Empire, which saw the actions of the other nations as a threat to its interests. The Ottoman Empire, in turn, declared war on all sides. Outraged by the Ottomans' actions, the United States, Italy, Greece, Romania, and Portugal launched a combined war effort against the Ottoman Empire.

The Catastrophic Consequences of the War
The World War I, which began in 1914 and concluded in 1918, resulted in a staggering loss of life, with over 16 million people killed, millions missing and wounded, and another 2 million injured.
This war, which was one of the most brutal in human history, was sparked by a single individual: Gavrilo Princip. Though he was just a student at the time of the assassination, his actions left an indelible mark on history, and his name is synonymous with the tragic events that unfolded.

A Reminder of the Fragility of Peace
The story of Gavrilo Princip serves as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of peace. It illustrates how a single event, no matter how seemingly small, can trigger a chain of events with far-reaching and devastating consequences.

19/07/2026

SOMALI HUMAN RIGHTS ASSOCIATION (SOHRA)

ORGANIZATIONAL PROFILE
Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA)
Promoting Justice, Protecting Dignity, and Empowering Communities.

• Organization Name: Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA)
• Date of Establishment: April 8, 2002
• Place of Establishment: Mogadishu, Somalia
• Legal Status: Non-Governmental, Non-Profit, and Independent Human Rights Organization
• Headquarters: Mogadishu, Banadir Region, Somalia
• Core Geographic Focus: Banadir and Lower Shebelle regions, with operational capacity across Somalia.
2. Executive Summary
Founded on April 8, 2002, in Mogadishu, the Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA) is a dedicated, independent civil society organization born out of the critical need to protect civilians, advocate for justice, and defend human rights during eras of protracted conflict and reconstruction in Somalia.
For over two decades, SOHRA has operated as a frontline defender of human dignity. The organization specializes in human rights monitoring, legal advocacy, civil protection, and international humanitarian standards. SOHRA works closely with marginalized populations, internally displaced persons (IDPs), women, children, and minority groups to foster a culture of accountability, peace, and legal literacy.
3. Vision, Mission, and Core Values
Vision
A just, peaceful, and democratic Somalia where human rights are universally respected, protected, and upheld, and where every citizen lives with dignity, equality, and freedom from fear.
Mission
To defend, promote, and advance human rights and civilian protection across Somalia through rigorous documentation, community-led advocacy, legal assistance, capacity building, and strategic partnerships with local and international stakeholders.

Core Values
• Integrity and Independence: Maintaining absolute neutrality and objectivity, free from political, sectarian, or factional influence.
• Accountability and Transparency: Upholding the highest standards of financial, operational, and ethical governance.
• Inclusivity and Equality: Ensuring that all interventions protect the most vulnerable, promoting gender equality and minority rights.
• Courage and Resilience: Remaining steadfast in defending human rights champions and vulnerable civilians under challenging security conditions.
4. Strategic Pillars and Core Programs
SOHRA structures its interventions around four interconnected strategic pillars designed to create lasting systemic change and immediate humanitarian protection:
I. Human Rights Monitoring & Reporting
• Documenting violations of human rights and international humanitarian law (IHL).
• Publishing periodic, evidence-based narrative and financial reports to inform international donors, United Nations agencies, and state authorities.
• Conducting baseline assessments to track protection trends in volatile regions.
II. Civilian Protection & Humanitarian Advocacy
• Designing and deploying localized community protection mechanisms, specifically within conflict-affected zones in the Banadir and Lower Shebelle regions.

Conducting long-term advocacy campaigns to mitigate gender-based violence (GBV) and protect child rights.
III. Institutional Capacity Building & Legal Literacy
• Training local authorities, civil society actors, and community leaders on international human rights standards and donor compliance frameworks.
• Empowering grassroots communities to understand their legal rights and access formal justice systems.
IV. AI Governance & Digital Rights
• Participating in emerging dialogues regarding AI governance, ensuring technological advancements benefit local communities while protecting data privacy and digital rights in fragile contexts.
5. Organizational Structure and Governance
SOHRA operates under a robust governance framework designed to ensure compliance, transparency, and strategic longevity:
Board of Directors: The supreme governing body responsible for institutional oversight, strategic planning, and policy approval.
• Management Team: Led by experienced human rights defenders and project leaders who oversee daily operations, program implementation, and donor communications.

6. Track Record and Key Achievements
• Over 24 Years of Active Service: Continuously operating in high-risk environments since 2002 to bridge the gap between vulnerable communities and international justice mechanisms.
• Strategic Project Implementation: Successfully executed multi-year humanitarian and protection proposals, including complex 24-month campaigns featuring baseline data assessments and regional advocacy.

7. Partnerships and Networks
SOHRA firmly believes in the power of collective action. The organization actively collaborates with:
• Local civil society networks and traditional elders.
• International human rights agencies and foreign institutional donors
• United Nations agencies operating under the Somalia humanitarian response frameworks
8. Contact Information
• Official Address: Mogadishu, Banadir, Somalia
• Primary Contact: Office of the Team Leader / Project Leader:Mr Abdullahi Sheikh Abukar
Email:[email protected]

07/07/2026

Welcome

Maxim Nyasa Foundation works to bridge the digital and educational ...

30/06/2026

https://youtu.be/faiwZej-wAc?si=t7GqmvXZatED9gtP