A/HRC/10/85 page 3 Committee pursuant to the Djibouti Agreement, which strongly focus on the protection of the population with respect to human rights, constitutes a positive step in ensuring that political dialogue be continued, while also addressing issues of justice and reconciliation. The unity Government established in February 2009 must continue this focus. On 22-23 November, the independent expert appointed by the Human Rights Council on the situation of human rights in Somalia, while on mission to the Horn of Africa, attended a preparatory meeting on justice and reconciliation organized by the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) Human Rights Unit (HRU) with OHCHR support, with the participation of the members of the High Level Committee, civil society delegates, and representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Department of Political Affairs of the Secretariat, among others. The positive outcome of the meeting was an agreement (though implementation has been delayed) to set up a working group made up of three representatives of each party, chaired by UNPOS, to review in more depth possible mechanisms such as the establishment of a commission of inquiry and/or judicial mechanisms. Meanwhile, attacks on humanitarian aid workers and civil society continued unabated. In 2008, the conflict in Somalia took on a new dimension with targeted killings of dozens of humanitarian workers and civil society activists. On 17 October a World Food Programme (WFP) national officer was killed in Merca, as were two more in January 2009. On 19 October a UNICEF national officer was killed in Hudur. International non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and United Nations agencies have subsequently limited their actions in lower Shabelle. In “Somaliland”, Al Shabab attacked the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) compound in Hargeisa on 29 October, killing 4, including 2 national staff members, and severely wounding 10. The attack was one in a concerted series of attacks in “Somaliland” and “Puntland”, also targeting the presidential palace in Hargeisa, the Ethiopian diplomatic mission in Hargeisa and the headquarters of the “Puntland” security services in Bossasso. Owing to the security situation, all planned United Nations human rights activities inside Somalia had to be postponed, but with renewed access to some parts of the country in February, it is hoped that it will be possible to resume these. The situation in Baidoa has also been of concern, with Al Shabaab taking control of the town in January, though high levels of violence were prevented through mediation by elders. A wave of violence at the end of 2008 led to at least two targeted killings. The deputy minister for reconciliation, Ismail Hassan Timir, was shot dead on 27 December by unidentified gunmen as he got out of his car in Baidoa. Another member of the national reconciliation commission, Abdullahi Abdi Egaal, was shot dead on 1 January 2009 in similar circumstances in the centre of Baidoa. arrangements, including monitoring of the cease fire agreement (JSC) and to address challenges related to political, justice and reconciliation issues, including protection of civilians and respect of human rights (HLC).