A/HRC/42/62 to the Gulf States were regularly arrested on suspicion of belonging to Al-Shabaab. They are tortured, executed and their whereabouts remain unknown. The application of exceptional laws to combat terrorism, such as Law No. 2 of 2019 in Puntland, is concerning. Counter-terrorism cases are still tried by military courts and have not been transferred to the civilian court complex built in Mogadishu. 41. The Ministry of Justice, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the International Development Law Organization, is establishing 16 alternative dispute resolution centres across several Federal Member States. The centre’s committees, comprising, among others, young persons, women and elders, adjudicate cases using simplified legal procedures. The committees handle land disputes and other civil cases, but not criminal cases. Sexual offences or criminal offences are referred to the police for further investigation. At present, 3 centres have been established in Puntland and 3 in Mogadishu, while 10 are due to be established in South-West State, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and Jubbaland towards the end of 2019. 42. The Ministry of Justice informed the Independent Expert that the committees heard 3,500 cases in 2018, of which 2,900 had been resolved. The Ministry trains the committees’ members, paralegals and traditional elders on constitutional principles, human rights and criminal law. 43. The Minister of Justice confirmed that legislation to establish the independent anticorruption commission had been approved by both Houses of Parliament and was awaiting assent. A bill to establish a land commission is being drafted in order to address the increasing number of land disputes and complaints. The Minister admitted that access to justice for many rural communities was a major challenge due to insecurity. However, he commended civil society organizations providing services in those areas, including for internally displaced persons. The Federal Government intends to introduce a legal aid scheme. 6. Protection of civilians during the conflict 44. The Independent Expert received information about the killing of civilians during combat operations by the United States Africa Command forces. On 29 April 2019, the Independent Expert, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism addressed a joint communication 6 to the United States of America and Somalia following allegations of five airstrikes from drones and manned aircraft conducted on 16 October 2017 in Farah Waeys settlement, on 12 November 2017 in Daarusalaam, on 6 December 2017 in Illimey, on 2 August 2018 in Gobanle and on 9 December 2018 in Baladul-Rahma, which allegedly killed 14 civilians and injured 8 more. The communication expressed concern about civilian casualties resulting from more than 100 airstrikes by United States drones and manned aircraft since early 2017. 45. The mandate holders called on the two States to investigate the attacks, hold the perpetrators accountable, and pay compensation and reparations to the victims and their families. They reiterated the need to respect international humanitarian law and human rights during the conflict. 7. Rights of women Implementing the 2013 communiqué on the prevention of sexual violence 46. At the time of the visit, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict had just visited Somalia to gain first-hand information about the persistent problems of sexual violence and to support the effective implementation of 6 Available at https://spcommreports.ohchr.org/TMResultsBase/DownLoadPublicCommunication File?gId=24518. 9