The UN independent expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia said despite “considerable progress” in its political, economic, social and humanitarian situation, there was much more to do in the country.
Speaking to reporters in the Somali capital Mogadishu today (25 Jul), Bahame Tom Nyanduga said the country continued to witness “inequality”, “discrimination” and other challenges to the realization of “basic rights such as access to water, access land, access health facilities and education particularly for girls and internally displaced persons, minority clans, and other marginalized communities.”
He urged the international community and Federal Government of Somalia to address the negative effects of climate change on the population and called on the international community to continue helping Somalia strengthen its federal and state institutions and enhance access to basic human rights.
The Independent Expert was speaking on the last day of a 12-day visit, which saw him meet with top officials of the federal government, legislators, members of civil society, trade unionists and officials of the UN and the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), among others. He also visited Hargeisa and held talks with the leadership of Somaliland.
Nyanduga expressed concern at the delay in the operationalization of the country’s National Human Rights Commission and lack of progress on the enactment of the Sexual Offences Bill. He urged the federal authorities and the federal parliament to prioritize the matter to enhance the protection of human rights in the country.
Nyanduga emphasized that Somalia’s continuing conflict and other socio-cultural and economic challenges were hindering the enjoyment of basic rights and must be addressed by the federal authorities and their international partners.
Despite the challenges faced, Nyanduga noted that the Federal Government of Somalia and the country’s Federal Member States were enhancing access to basic human rights, including health, water and education for the residents and praised the increasing enrolment of girls in schools as a good development for the realization of women’s rights in Somalia.
Nyanduga also noted the recovery of “territory, towns and cities, and the diminishing of Al-Shabaab’s capability; this is due mainly to the action of the Somali security institutions, with the assistance of AMISOM troops and bilateral forces.” He commended the Somalia National Army and AMISOM for their achievement and sacrifices.
The UN Independent Expert’s findings will be presented in a comprehensive report to the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council in September this year.
Independent Experts like Nyanduga are part of the Council’s so-called Special Procedures, which have such experts work on a voluntary basis. They are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. They are independent from any government or organization and serve in their individual capacity~UNSOM
