A/HRC/33/64 V. Cooperation with human rights mechanisms 27. Somalia submitted its national report to the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review at its twenty-fourth session (A/HRC/WG.6/24/SOM/1). At the thirtysecond session of the Human Rights Council, the State announced that, of the 228 recommendations made, it had accepted 168 and noted 60. 28. The Independent Expert commends the Federal Government for its timely submission to the Human Rights Council and for actively engaging in the review, despite the severe resource and capacity constraints that it faces. The support of the UNSOM Human Rights and Protection Group allowed the Federal Government to present its report, which was based on nationwide consultations. The Independent Expert indeed calls upon the international community to assist the Federal Government in submitting pending reports to the treaty bodies, such as the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee on the Rights of the Child. The submission of these reports will allow the Government of Somalia and the international community to identify outstanding challenges, including the extent to which the conflict in the country has had an impact on the rights of the child and the resources available for social services. A. Right to life, liberty and security of person 29. The Independent Expert is concerned about violations of the right to life in Somalia owing to the ongoing indiscriminate attacks by Al-Shabaab and the use of suicide bombers and improvised explosive devices against civilian targets. 30. The Independent Expert was repeatedly informed that the Government could not abolish the death penalty nor adopt a moratorium on it given that it was a legitimate form of punishment under Islam, unless a victim’s family decided to forgive the perpetrator. During an interview with the Attorney General, the Independent Expert pointed out that Somalia could learn from other Muslim countries that did not apply the death penalty, such as Turkey and the Comoros, adding that advocacy with victims’ families and the Somali nomadic society to abolish the death penalty required time, given that a victim’s family could resort to diya, namely, compensation in the form of camels or cows in lieu of the execution of the perpetrator. 31. The Independent Expert was informed that conditions of detention in prisons had improved following the steps to reduce overcrowding and ensure greater availability of medicine, water and bedding. B. Equality and non-discrimination 32. The political establishment in Somalia has accepted the principle of a quote of 30 per cent representation of women, as provided for by the Constitution adopted in 2012. With regard to the forthcoming elections in 2016, the traditional elders council, constituting the electoral college, will ensure that women representatives are elected. It is expected that, on the basis of the 30 per cent quota, at least 92 women will be elected to the Federal Parliament, which has a total of 275 members. Any vacancies arising for women in Parliament will be occupied by women (unlike in the case of the recently dissolved Parliament, where seats vacated by a woman member were filled by a man appointed by his clan). In June 2016, President Hassan Sheikh appointed by decree 13 goodwill ambassadors to champion the cause. The ambassadors presented a formula to the National Leadership Forum that is still being discussed. The ambassadors will also engage the elders from the 8