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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