A/HRC/39/72 the law, a minimum of three out of the total nine members of the Commission should be women. All applicants were subjected to a written test. The panel prioritized merit, without which inclusiveness would have been jeopardized. 22. The panel reviewed 615 applications. Eventually, 45 candidates (17 women and 28 men) were shortlisted and sat an interview on 18 December 2017. Nine prospective members of the Commission were selected, including four women and one person with a disability. At the time of preparing the report, the Cabinet had yet to finalize the procedures for making the Commission operational. The Independent Expert urges the Cabinet to finalize the establishment of the Commission and other constitutional commissions, such as the judicial service commission and the constitutional review commission, to enhance the State’s capacity to ensure respect for human rights. B. Somalia Joint Human Rights Programme 23. In February 2018 the Federal Government, UNSOM, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UNICEF launched the Joint Human Rights Programme to support the work performed by the Federal Government. The Programme aims to strengthen the nexus between human rights, children’s rights and women’s rights on the one hand and security and justice institutions on the other hand, through the implementation of the National Development Plan priorities, the commitments of Somalia under the universal periodic review and human rights road map. 24. The Programme, structured around two thematic areas, i.e. institutional development and social engagement and accountability, aims at empowering civil society to hold government institutions accountable. It should be noted that the five outcomes linked to the two thematic areas range from strengthening the capacity of ministries at the federal and state levels to support civil society organizations, to empowering rights holders — namely, the representatives of Somali women, men and children and persons with disabilities — to claim their rights. 25. The implementation of the Programme requires $5,523,809 of funding. So far, only $500,000 has been disbursed, by Sweden. Through the Joint Programme, the international community can offer practical ways to help Somalia build its technical capacity. The Federal Government itself is considering putting money into the joint programme, despite its limited resources. Such a contribution would demonstrate its ownership of the Programme. 26. Implementation of the Programme will contribute, inter alia, to the achievement of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, on peace, justice and strengthening institutions, and will deliver on the National Development Plan for the period 2017–2019. It will also enhance the implementation of the rule of law, justice sector reforms and the existing Joint Programme on Women’s Political Empowerment and Leadership. C. Strengthening institutions for justice and the rule of law 27. In his previous report to the Council, 5 the Independent Expert noted that little had been achieved with regard to strengthening justice and rule-of-law institutions, and that capacity-building for justice and rule-of-law professionals was urgently needed. 28. The Joint Human Rights Programme is designed to address that situation, as it addresses the issue of strengthening institutions, accountability and respect for human rights. UNDP continues to roll out its mobile court programme, as security issues have prevented the construction of permanent infrastructure in some parts of the country. The Human Rights and Protection Group of UNSOM also conducts capacity-building training for various rule-of-law personnel. 5 8 Ibid., paras. 40–43.