A/HRC/12/44
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violation of human rights and humanitarian laws. The naming of a human rights focal
point who could liaise with the United Nations and others in this regard would be very
useful.
87. Measures to end the deep-rooted culture of impunity in Somalia and to ensure
accountability for all Government servants must be a key priority. As a party to the
Djibouti Agreement, the Government is committed to taking the necessary measures to
deal with all abuses of human rights and international humanitarian law committed
throughout the entire Somali conflict. It must honour its commitment, however challenging
that task may be. Apart from developing mechanisms to deal with the perpetrators of past
crimes, the Government will also have to take measures to prevent impunity in the future.
To that end, it will have to rebuild and re-orient the security forces with a command and
control leadership that promotes professional behaviour.
88. Capacity-building and the training of Government forces and officials on human
rights and humanitarian law principles should continue as long as old habits and practices
remain. The United Nations is committed to helping in this regard. That help must be used
on a priority basis. More specifically, arrangements will have to be made to train and brief
the new authorities - presidential office, Government and parliament - to create an
awareness of their obligations with regard to human rights and the implementation of
ratified treaties and covenants. These training sessions could be held alternatively in
different locations in the country where circumstances permit, and include local, regional
and national authorities.
89. Training and briefing sessions should include strategies to raise awareness of the
human rights framework and what it means in practice, including increasing the
participation of women in all processes. Over time, support for establishing parliamentary
oversight mechanisms and an independent national body to promote and protect human
rights will also be necessary. Ensuring the incorporation of human rights into the drafting
process of a new constitution will be an important task for the coming months.
90. The assurances given by the Prime Minister during his meetings with the independent
expert to set up an independent national human rights commission must be followed up in
the shortest possible time, notwithstanding the challenges that an ongoing conflict poses.
91. An important challenge for the Government will be the introduction of sharia law as
the source of legislation. The task of adopting legislation in full compliance with
international standards will be an extremely difficult task. The independent expert is
pleased to learn that UNDP is already liaising with the Government in this regard.
92. Since the tasks facing the Government to improve the human rights of the people is
an enormous one, the Government should draw up a road map with clear immediate,
medium- and long-term objectives. While improving the physical security should indeed
remain the top priority in the immediate term, there are other objectives that could be
included. The Government could immediately pledge to set up activities relating to the
exercise of certain economic, social and cultural rights that have been denied for so long in
areas where circumstances permit. For example, higher education and vocational training
of selected youths from Mogadishu and other areas of south-central Somalia could be set
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