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October
1, 2011
UN
Human Rights Council
Human Rights Council: 18th Session
Item 10 – Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on
Somalia
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
28th September 2011.
Delivered
by Ahmed Mahamed Ali “kiimiko” Somali Human Rights Defenders
Network (SOHRIDEN)/East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders
Network.
The Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, the East
and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network, and the
Somali Human Rights Defenders
Network would like to thank the Independent Expert on Somalia,
Mr Shamsul Bari, for his report and presentation and to build
on some of the key issues he has raised.
Human rights defenders continue to pay a heavy cost for ensuring
that violations are monitored and reported. While no journalists
may have been killed during the period covered by the report,
two journalists have been killed in Mogadishu since its submission;
others have been arbitrarily detained and tortured during 2011.
In past fortnight, two other journalists were shot at close
range and severely injured in Puntland. In such a context, we
regret that civil society representatives were not included
in recent consultative meetings on ending the transition, and
call on the Government, donor states and UN agencies to offer
political as well as logistical and financial support to civil
society.
The Independent Expert has rightly given serious attention
to the current food crisis, and the need to deal with the root
causes of this catastrophe becomes ever more urgent and apparent.
One significant factor is the culture of impunity and lack of
accountability that fatally undermines the ability of government
institutions to effectively tackle the serious challenges Somalia
faces.
We therefore fully support Mr. Bari’s recommendation that all
those who perpetrate abuses against the civilian population,
in transgression of their obligations under international humanitarian
and human rights law, should be held accountable in a timely
and transparent manner. During Somalia’s UPR a number of States
recommended the establishment of independent international commission
of inquiry or similar mechanism to investigate war crimes and
crimes against humanity. Would the Independent Expert support
the prioritization of this recommendation and others relating
to the administration of justice?
Finally, news that preparations are underway to place more
UN staff in Mogadishu, including the new Deputy Special Representative
of the Secretary-General, is very welcome. We hope that this
will provide much needed support to civil society and allow
more systematic monitoring and reporting of the daily rights
violations committed by all actors to take place.
Thanks
For the webcast of this statement and the complete Interactive
Dialogue with
the Independent Expert on Somalia, please see:
http://www.unmultimedia.org/tv/webcast/2011/09/cihrs-interactive-dialogue-on
-somalia-33rd-plenary-meeting.html
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