The Federal Government of Somalia and the Somaliland administration have established legal and policy frameworks that uphold the right of all individuals—including forcibly displaced persons (FDPs) such as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugee-returnees—to access civil registration systems and obtain official recognition of vital events, including birth, marriage, divorce, and death. Importantly, these frameworks provide administrative and judicial remedies for individuals who are denied recognition or documentation, ensuring that legal identity and civil status can be pursued through formal recourse mechanisms.

Both Somalia and Somaliland recognize that access to civil documentation is essential for the realization of a wide range of legal and socioeconomic rights, including access to healthcare, education, inheritance, social protection, and justice. In cases where civil registration requests are denied or delayed, individuals have the right to file administrative appeals with relevant civil registration authorities or pursue judicial remedies through national or regional courts. These pathways are supported by domestic laws that affirm the right to identity and due process, enabling individuals to challenge denials, correct records, or seek the issuance of missing documentation.

In Somalia, the evolving civil registration framework—guided in part by the National Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) Policy (2021)—outlines principles of accessibility, non-discrimination, and legal redress, encouraging accountability within registration services. In Somaliland, local civil authorities and judicial bodies are similarly empowered to review civil registration decisions, resolve disputes, and uphold the rights of individuals to secure vital records, including those displaced by conflict or disaster.

These mechanisms are further supported by legal aid providers, community paralegals, and humanitarian partners, who assist displaced persons in navigating the administrative and legal processes required to assert their identity and family status. Ongoing efforts to strengthen legal awareness, train registry officials, and streamline complaint and appeal procedures aim to make these remedies more accessible, especially for vulnerable groups with limited legal literacy or documentation.

By ensuring that accessible recourse mechanisms are in place, both Somalia and Somaliland are reinforcing the rule of law, promoting inclusive governance, and advancing the right to identity for all individuals, including those affected by displacement.