A/HRC/21/61 124. The memorandum of understanding on technical cooperation signed by the Government and OHCHR is a good beginning to improve the promotion and protection of human rights in Somalia. It provides an umbrella under which the Government may seek guidance and assistance from OHCHR to improve different aspects of human rights issues. 125. As the use and recruitment of children for military purposes remains a major concern, the United Nations must monitor closely the implementation of the Government’s policy of not recruiting children into the Somali National forces. It should also ensure implementation of the joint security plan relating to the reintegration of children from armed entities into civilian life. 126. OHCHR should consider organizing a workshop with the participation of lawmakers and members of the judiciary, as well as experts in both Islamic and international law, to address the question of the harmonization of Somali laws, in particular between Islamic and sharia law and customary and international human rights and humanitarian law. Such a workshop might include, among others, the holders of mandates on such thematic issues as torture, enforced disappearances, summary and extrajudicial killings, violence against women, and freedom of expression and opinion, as well as selected members of the Transitional Federal Government and Parliament. 127. The United Nations must pay special attention to helping the Government to reestablish a legitimate justice system in Mogadishu and South-central Somalia. A specific, coordinated assessment of the justice and corrections sectors and the development of a nationally-owned strategy for the re-establishment of a functioning apparatus are essential to rebuild the country. 128. The institutions of the United Nations should bear in mind that, in Somalia, there is a widespread perception that a substantial amount of international assistance provided by the international community to Somalia is spent on missions and on supporting humanitarian activities and capacity-building programmes, very little of which has touched the lives of ordinary people. The United Nations should conduct public relations exercises and make other efforts to remove this perception, which affects the impact of its work and the safety of United Nations personnel. 129. The United Nations and donor agencies should be encouraged to assist the Government in providing long-term assistance to internally displaced persons, especially women and children. The Organization should assist the Government in ensuring the provision of adequate lighting and security, and geographically accessible police stations, as well as access to appropriate health care and schooling facilities, adequate shelter and food. 130. United Nations agencies and their partners should integrate the relevant universal periodic review recommendations into their planning and programming and provide the Government with the technical and financial support necessary to implement them. 131. UNODC should do more to raise the terrible conditions of detainees in Somalia to international standards and ensure compliance with the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners. 132. The Independent Expert encourages OHCHR and UNPOS to provide advisory services to the Puntland authorities to develop a media law that is compliant with international human rights standards. 21

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