A/HRC/45/52 international partners that participated in the Forum meeting committed themselves to supporting the Federal Government in meeting the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Initiative benchmark. 88. In December 2019, the President of Somalia launched the Somalia National Development Plan 2020–2024. The Plan integrates cross-cutting issues, including gender, human rights and other social equity concerns, into four pillars: inclusive and accountable politics; security and the rule of law; economic development; and social development. Following successful advocacy by the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development, a standalone working group on human rights, gender and inclusion was established. Implementation of the Plan, which serves to guide planning efforts, is dependent on the support and cooperation of international partners. The priorities in the Plan are in line with the mutual accountability framework for 2020. 89. Donors have continued to support Somalia at the federal and state levels through technical assistance in developing legal and policy frameworks, training programmes for building human capacity and funding for infrastructure and humanitarian needs, especially to counter the negative impact of COVID-19. While the health sector has been severely affected, the Federal Government’s trajectory has not changed and its adherence to its international commitments has remained steady. The Independent Expert urges the Federal Government and its international partners to stay the course in cooperating to promote and protect the human rights of all Somalis. VII. Conclusion and way forward 90. The Independent Expert recognizes the progress made by the Federal Government of Somalia to strengthen human rights legal and policy frameworks, design strategies and action plans, institute mechanisms and mobilize international cooperation and donor support for the promotion and protection of human rights in a context of recovery. The Federal Government has set out a vision for moving Somalia along a path towards becoming a just, stable and prosperous nation. The holding of the first one person-one vote in over 50 years offers a great opportunity for transformational change. The electoral process is fraught with challenges, however, which could hinder progress. 91. During the period under review, key human rights processes suffered inordinate delays, making it all the more difficult to respond to human rights violations. The Independent Expert urges the Somali authorities to swiftly adopt all outstanding legislative measures, including the amended Federal Constitution, the sexual offences, female genital mutilation, juvenile justice and child rights bills and the amendments to the 2016 media law, and to finalize the establishment of a national human rights commission, the Judicial Service Commission and the Constitutional Court. 92. The Independent Expert welcomes the swift action taken by the Somali authorities to stop the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic amid the ongoing armed conflict and humanitarian crises. She is concerned, however, that some of the containment measures have contributed to an increase in human rights violations, including the unlawful killing of civilians, the arbitrary arrest and detention of journalists and sexual violence against women and girls. The Independent Expert urges the Somali authorities to put in place effective mechanisms to protect civilians and hold perpetrators accountable. She encourages the Federal Government to continue to expand national programmes beyond humanitarian assistance to include persons with disabilities, refugees and internally displaced persons, members of minority and disadvantaged communities, particularly those living in rural areas, in the sectors of health, education and opportunities for youth. These programmes should be accompanied by massive awareness-raising campaigns. Without these mechanisms, it will not be possible to meet minimum human rights obligations and standards. 19