A/HRC/24/40
and reintegration, maritime security and mine action. It may be recalled that the
Independent Expert has over the past five years underlined the need to address the impunity
of those involved in committing gross human rights violations in Somalia for the past two
decades. The Independent Expert is heartened by the fact that the Security Council stresses
in its resolution 2102 (2013) the need for the Federal Government to ensure that all
perpetrators of serious violations and abuses of human rights and serious violations of
humanitarian law are held accountable, and emphasizes the importance of UNSOM in
supporting the Federal Government in developing and implementing a national strategy for
preventing and responding to sexual and gender-based violence.
D.
Human Rights Council decision to hold a stand-alone dialogue on
Somalia
88.
As a mark of its continuing interest in the promotion and protection of human rights
in Somalia, the Human Rights Council, at its twenty-third session, took a decision to hold,
at its twenty-fourth session, a stand-alone high-level interactive dialogue with the aim of
exploring how all stakeholders can work effectively towards the finalization and
implementation of the road map and the realization of human rights in Somalia (decision
23/114 of 14 June 2013). It may therefore be expected that the Federal Government of
Somalia will announce its road map before that date.
V. Measures already initiated by the Government
89.
Since assuming office, the new Government has taken a number of steps on some of
the issues to be considered in the proposed road map. For the establishment of commissions
foreseen in the Provisional Constitution, a number of important bills have been introduced
in the Federal Parliament. Bills that have important bearings on human rights include the
draft bills on a national human rights commission, the Office of the Ombudsman and the
Judicial Service Commission, as well as the draft Constitutional Court Act.
90.
The Independent Expert welcomes the introduction in February 2013 of the draft bill
in the Parliament for the establishment of a national human rights commission. While there
are concerns about some of the provisions of the draft, it is hoped that those will be ironed
out and that the Parliament will take into account the comments provided by the Office of
the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and others.
91.
The Independent Expert has learned about the important work done by the Ministry
of Justice in drafting the plan of action for the justice sector. The key objectives of the plan
include strengthening accountability and democratic oversight of justice institutions and
ensuring that citizens have their human rights guaranteed, including the right to fair trial
and due process. The draft also contains a strong focus on access to justice by vulnerable
groups, including internally displaced persons, women and children.
92.
Equally important is the work done by the Ministry of the Interior and National
Security in drafting the strategic development plan for the Somalia Police Force which,
among other things, states that the main objectives of the Somalia Police Force are to
increase the safety and security of the people of Somalia; provide professional, ethical,
accountable and service-oriented policing; and to ensure democratic governance and
civilian oversight. These are lofty objectives, and the Independent Expert hopes that the
government commitments in this regard will be duly matched by assistance from the
international community.
17
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