Defend 20 children too young for prison

Dear friends and supporters,

Five years ago, our very first client was a boy under 14 years of age — a child who should have been in school, not behind bars.

It was November 2020. The world was in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, but children were still being detained in Somaliland — some as young as twelve. My colleague Idiris and I rented a small desk near the courthouse in Hargeisa and began taking their cases. Out of that uncertainty, the Children’s Legal Defense Center (CLDC) was born.

That first case shaped everything that followed.
Since then, we have defended 2,898 imprisoned children — many of them under 15 years old. Each one reminds us why this work matters: because every child deserves protection, not punishment.

We’ve seen judges begin to interpret the law with compassion and respect for children’s rights. We’ve seen families reunited and children return to school with hope for a new beginning.

But the need continues. Every month, new cases reach us — children too young for prison, still awaiting someone to stand beside them.

As we mark five years of CLDC’s work, we also face a hard truth: funding for justice work is shrinking, even as these cases keep coming.

Your support keeps this lifeline open.
Every donation helps us reach another child, secure their release, and ensure that no one under 15 is left to face the law alone.

Thank you for standing with us — and for standing up for Somaliland’s children.

With gratitude,
Caitlin Lambert
Eecutive Director, Children’s Legal Defense Center