A/HRC/21/36
reports the need to strengthen coordination among United Nations agencies, including
human rights coordination and monitoring and public reporting.
C.
United Nations Political Office for Somalia
48.
UNPOS was established in 1995 to advance the cause of peace and reconciliation in
Somalia.12 In its resolution 1814 (2008), the Security Council requested the SecretaryGeneral to establish an effective capacity within UNPOS to monitor and enhance the
protection of human rights in Somalia, and to ensure coordination, as appropriate, between
UNPOS, OHCHR and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia,
which led to the creation of the UNPOS Human Rights Unit in 2008.
49.
The three substantive components of UNPOS are (a) security sector development,
(b) political, civil and gender affairs and (c) human rights and rule of law. In accordance
with the decision of the Secretary-General and standing United Nations policy, human
rights components are integrated into political and peace operations. OHCHR, as the lead
United Nations entity for human rights, provides expertise, guidance and support to the
UNPOS Human Rights Unit, which has a dual reporting line to the Special Representative
of the Secretary-General for Somalia and the High Commissioner.
50.
As an integral component of UNPOS, the Human Rights Unit identified the
following thematic priorities for 2012–2013: (a) protecting human rights in situations of
violence and insecurity; (b) combating impunity and strengthening accountability, rule of
law, and democratic societies, with an emphasis on institution and capacity-building; and
(c) countering discrimination, with a special focus on discrimination against internally
displaced persons, women and children. Although human rights activities are concentrated
in the Human Rights Unit, the work of the other two components has a direct bearing on the
protection and promotion of human rights.
51.
The efforts made by the international community to counter piracy also have human
rights implications. In various resolutions, the Security Council has emphasized, inter alia,
that respect for human rights and the rule of law are necessary to create the conditions for
the durable eradication of piracy and armed robbery at sea off the coast of Somalia. 13
52.
In 2012, UNPOS began to deploy national and international staff inside Somalia in
the context of the relocation of UNPOS from Nairobi to Somalia. The construction of
additional accommodation and office space in Mogadishu is expected to be completed in
the near future, allowing for the permanent relocation of UNPOS to Somalia. By 1
September 2012, the Human Rights Unit will have eight staff members (five internationals
and three nationals) permanently deployed inside Somalia, and five in Nairobi, whose
deployment inside Somalia is planned for 2013. The size of the Unit is modest when
compared with the vastness and complexity of the human rights challenges in Somalia.
With offices in Hargeisa (“Somaliland”), Garowe (“Puntland”) and Mogadishu, the Unit
finds itself thinly spread between different regions with different human rights specificities
and various needs for technical assistance. In the complex political environment of
Somalia, the Unit is committed to working with the Somali authorities in a collaborative
manner that ensures national ownership of the human rights agenda.
12
13
10
See Security Council resolutions 1814 (2008), 1863 (2009), 1910 (2010) and 1872 (2009).
See for example Security Council resolution 2020 (2011).
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