A/HRC/33/64 United Nations General Assembly Distr.: General 15 September 2016 Original: English Human Rights Council Thirty-third session Agenda item 10 Technical assistance and capacity-building Report of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia* Note by the Secretariat In the present report, the Independent Expert highlights the progress made in political, security, national and State-building processes as Somalia prepares for the 2016 elections, and identifies the challenges encountered by the Federal Government. He identifies security and economic development as key elements of democratic processes and the protection of human rights. He also notes, however, that the respect for the rights of women, children, persons with disabilities and minorities is a major challenge. In this regard, he underscores the importance of traditional justice and the need for reform in accordance with international human rights standards. Lastly, he emphasizes the need for ongoing support from the international community to safeguard the rights of women and children, media freedoms and the right to freedom of expression and opinion, and respect for international human rights law and international humanitarian law in the context of armed conflict. * The present report was submitted after the deadline in order to reflect the most recent developments . GE.16-15970(E) 