In Somalia today, access to information is not equal — and this inequality shapes who participates in civic life.
According to the Somalia National Disability Report (2024), 11.7% of Somali adults live with a disability — a powerful reminder of how many citizens are excluded by design from mainstream communication channels. The prevalence is higher among women (12.6%) than men (10.5%), and most acute in rural areas (13.5%), where access to public services and civic engagement opportunities remains extremely limited.
Among disability types, sight and walking impairments are the most common, affecting up to 7% of adults, particularly women and rural populations. For these groups, printed materials such as constitutional documents are often inaccessible, cutting them off from vital civic knowledge.
The picture becomes even more urgent when literacy is considered. Only 34.1% of persons with disabilities are literate — compared to 56% among those without disabilities. The gap widens for women with disabilities (25.7%), rural residents (26.7%), and nomadic populations (16.1%).
These figures reveal more than statistics; they expose systemic barriers that prevent millions of Somalis from accessing justice and civic awareness — not because of a lack of will, but because of structural exclusion rooted in literacy, disability, and geography.
Our Inclusive Solution
The Somali Civic Voice (SCV) initiative — Audio-Visual Dissemination of the Puntland Constitution — was designed precisely to bridge this gap. It transforms complex legal text into clear Somali audio and visual narratives, making the Constitution audible, visible, and understandable to every citizen, regardless of reading ability or physical limitation.
Through this initiative, visually impaired, unlettered, and rural communities can now hear, learn, and exercise their constitutional rights — many for the first time.
A Milestone for Social Inclusion
This is more than a communication project. It is a landmark for civic inclusion — ensuring that no Somali is left behind in understanding the laws that govern them. By democratizing access to constitutional knowledge, SCV is not just amplifying voices; it is restoring dignity, agency, and belonging to those who have long been excluded from civic participation.