For the first time in Somalia’s history, the Puntland State Constitution has been transformed into an audio-visual format, marking a groundbreaking step towards inclusive constitutional literacy and equal access to justice. This innovative initiative, spearheaded by Somali Civic Voice (SCV), aims to ensure that the Constitution truly becomes a people’s document — accessible, understandable, and meaningful to all citizens regardless of their literacy level or physical ability.
Why This Initiative Matters
For years, the Constitutions of both the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS) have existed primarily in text-based formats with limited publication and circulation. This reality has unintentionally excluded large portions of the population — particularly visually impaired persons, unlettered communities, and the general public whose reading culture remains weak due to decades of educational and infrastructural disruptions.
As a result, the Somali public has had minimal interaction with their own constitutions, limiting their ability to understand, claim, or defend their constitutional rights. The Constitution — which should be the foundation of justice, accountability, and good governance — has remained largely confined to government offices, political elites, and legal experts.
Transforming Access and Awareness
SCV’s Audio-Visual Dissemination of the Puntland Constitution directly tackles these barriers by:
- 🎧 Making the Constitution Accessible to All: Translating and recording the entire Constitution into clear Somali audio for easy listening by visually impaired and low-literacy communities.
- 🌍 Expanding Public Reach: Using radio, social media, and community listening platforms to extend access to every corner of Puntland.
- 📚 Simplifying Complex Legal Concepts: Presenting constitutional principles in engaging, culturally resonant language that resonates with ordinary citizens.
- ⚖️ Empowering Civic Participation: Enabling citizens to understand their rights and responsibilities, hold leaders accountable, and actively contribute to governance processes.
Addressing Fundamental Justice Gaps
Beyond promoting constitutional literacy, this initiative has immense potential to bridge fundamental justice gaps, particularly among survivors of violence — including victims of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). By demystifying legal rights and responsibilities, and by promoting awareness of:
- existing pro bono legal services,
- available legal protection mechanisms, and
- accessible avenues for formal legal recourse,
Our initiative is deemed to empower survivors of various forms of violence to seek justice confidently and reclaim their agency within the legal system.
A Step Toward Inclusive Governance and Accountability
This initiative represents more than a technical innovation — it is a transformative civic empowerment tool. It reconnects the people of Puntland with the spirit of their Constitution, strengthens public participation in governance, and builds a culture of informed citizenship, social accountability, and justice for all.
Through this pioneering effort, Somali Civic Voice (SCV) reaffirms its commitment to inclusive governance, civic education, and the right of every citizen to understand and access the law that governs them.
Please click on this link to access audio clips of the Puntland constitution: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1By8haTwY6/