A/HRC/42/62
(a)
The 2012 Provisional Constitution, which led to the establishment of the
Federal Government, the Federal Member States and their institutions, the parliaments, the
judiciary, the Somali National Army, the police force and the correctional services;2
(b)
Ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Convention
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities;
(c)
The human rights road map, which is being implemented by the Federal
Government;
(d)
A Human Rights Component within UNSOM;
(e)
Programmes for strengthening the justice and security sectors, such as
through the vetting of army and police recruitment, and training in human rights and
international humanitarian law.
15.
The process of State formation and institution-building at the federal and State levels
have strengthened governance, indicating the progress that underpins the enjoyment of
human rights in Somalia in conformity with many recommendations made by the Human
Rights Council. The Independent Expert has witnessed considerable progress since his first
mission in December 2014. Insecurity and violence have decreased in many parts of the
country due to the efforts of Somali security institutions supported by the African Union
Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), and the international community, in spite of targeted and
complex attacks against civilian and military targets by Al-Shabaab. Federal Government
troops have recovered territory and continue to diminish the capability of Al-Shabaab.
However, terrorist attacks continue to claim lives, increase the displacement of the civilian
population, cause life-long physical injuries and trauma, destroy property and livelihoods,
and place heavy burdens on the health system.
16.
Somalia conducted successful indirect electoral processes in 2016/2017 for the
Federal President and the two Houses of Parliament involving thousands of delegates
across the country, in spite of intimidation and threats by Al-Shabaab. This was in contrast
to the elections by the Council of Elders in 2012. Subsequently, 34 clan elders and other
people were killed for participating in the electoral process. This is a reminder that security
and other necessary arrangements must be in place to guarantee credible elections in
2020/2021.
17.
Following the 2016 electoral process, the number of women in Parliament and the
Cabinet increased. The appointment of women as Ministers for Women and Human Rights
Development, Energy and Water Resources, Ports and Marine Transport, Health, and
Youth and Sports, and the Deputy Commissioner General of Police highlight the
importance of the participation of women in public affairs, peace and reconciliation and
decision-making processes.
18.
An assessment of the Federal Government’s mid-term report on the implementation
of recommendations from the second cycle of the universal periodic review reveals that
laws, plans, policies and programmes adopted are in the process of being implemented. 3
19.
Before the crisis in 1991, Somalia had ratified four of the nine core human rights
treaties, namely the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial
Discrimination, the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Somalia ratified the
Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2015. On 2 October 2018, Somalia acceded to the
Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and ratified it on 6 August 2019. In
2016, Somalia also extended a standing invitation to the special procedure mandate holders.
2
3
Reforms accepted at the London Conference of 11 May 2017. See A/HRC/36/62, paras. 13–16.
See Somalia, “Mid-term review report on progress made by Somalia on the implementation of
accepted recommendations from the second cycle review in January 2016 under the universal
periodic review (UPR) mechanism of the United Nations Human Rights Council” (January 2019).
Available at https://lib.ohchr.org/HRBodies/UPR/Documents/Session24/SO/Somalia.pdf.
5
Select target paragraph3
Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents