A/HRC/21/36 I. Introduction 1. In its resolution 19/28, the Human Rights Council requested the Secretary-General to submit to the Council, at its twenty-first session, a report assessing current United Nations support for efforts in Somalia to end all human rights abuses and combat impunity, as reflected in the report of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review on Somalia, and containing proposals for a more integrated approach across the United Nations system, considering in this context the role of the field presence of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Somalia. 2. On 10 April 2012, OHCHR addressed a note verbale to all United Nations agencies, funds and programmes to solicit information on (a) United Nations programmes and projects that have brought positive results in the area of human rights, ending human rights abuses and combating impunity, as well as possible gaps; and (b) views and proposals on United Nations coordination in the area of human rights and how the United Nations could ensure a more integrated approach. Contributions to the report were received from the Office of Legal Affairs, the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Child Protection Adviser of the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Office of the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator.1 3. The present report should be read against the background of the relevant periodic reports of the Secretary-General submitted to the Security Council2 and in the context of the increased attention paid by the international community to the situation of human rights in Somalia, as demonstrated at the London and Istanbul conferences on Somalia. The outcome documents of both conferences underscore the importance of advancing the protection and promotion of human rights and the rule of law in Somalia. 4. In his most recent regular report to the Security Council on Somalia (S/2012/643), the Secretary-General provided an update on progress towards ending the country’s eightyear political transition, in accordance with the road map for ending the transition, which sets out targets in the areas of security, the Constitution, national outreach and reconciliation, and good governance. All areas of the road map contain human rights elements. While not all tasks were completed by the original deadline of 20 August 2012, the transition process was completed with the election on 10 September 2012 of Hassan Sheikh Mohamud as the new President of Somalia. 5. The indivisibility of peace, security, human rights and development cannot be sufficiently emphasized. The active participation of Somalia in 2011 in the universal periodic review3 was a major achievement, and the efforts made by the Transitional Federal Government to engage constructively in this process, in spite of numerous challenges, are to be commended. OHCHR, together with the UNPOS Human Rights Unit, supported Somalia throughout this process by organizing a preparatory workshop for senior Government officials, in collaboration with Djibouti and Italy, and provided technical assistance to support the Government in the drafting of the national report. The 155 recommendations made by Member States, most of which were accepted by Somalia, chart a comprehensive vision for improving the situation of human rights in Somalia. 1 2 3 The original replies are available for consultation from the Secretariat. S/2012/50, S/2012/74, S/2010/234. S/2011/277, S/2012/283, S/2010/447, S/2011/549, S/2010/675, S/2011/759. See A/HRC/6/Add.1, A/HRC/DEC/18/104, A/HRC/18/6, A/HRC/WG.6/11/SOM/3, A/HRC/WG.6/11/SOM/2 3