Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights

Human Rights Council
Twenty-third session
Agenda item 10

Technical assistance and capacity-building

Australia*, Austria, Belgium*, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Croatia*, Cyprus*, Djibouti*, Ethiopia,

France*, Germany, Italy, Maldives, Morocco*, Norway*, Portugal*, Romania, Somalia*, Sweden*,

Turkey*, Qatar, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland*, Yemen*: draft decision
 23/…Assistance to Somalia in the field of human rights

At its meeting, on … June 2013, the  Human Rights Council decided to adopt the text below:
“The Human Rights Council,

Guided by the Charter of the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,

Acknowledging that peace and security, development and human rights are the pillars of the United Nations system,

Reaffirming its respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence and unity of Somalia,

Reaffirming previous Human Rights Council resolutions on Somalia,

Acknowledging the commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia after an eight-year transition process to work towards a more stable, representative system of governance, with a special focus on the promotion and protection of human rights,

Recognizing that serious human rights and humanitarian concerns remain in Somalia,

Acknowledging the cooperation of the Federal Government of Somalia with the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia and with the wider United Nations system,

Welcoming the new United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia and its mandate to support the Federal Government of Somalia in developing its human rights capacity and to monitor the situation in Somalia,

Recalling the intention of the Federal Government of Somalia to adopt a human rights road map, and affirming the importance of adopting it before the end of 2013,

Welcoming the decision of the Federal Government of Somalia to establish its Directorate General for Human and Minority Rights and Rule of Law within the Office of the Prime Minister,

Acknowledging the commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia to establish a broad-based national human rights commission as soon as feasible and the role it will play in holding the Government to account in respect of its human rights obligations.,

Reaffirming international commitments to support progress and development in Somalia, as shown at the Somalia Conference, held on 7 May 2013 in London, and the communiqué thereof, noting especially the commitments to create sustainable and accountable security institutions that respect human rights, to ensure the protection of women and children in conflict, to ensure equal access for all to a robust, impartial and effective justice system, and to ensure press and media safety and freedom,

Reaffirming also the joint communiqué, signed by the United Nations and Somalia on 7 May 2013, on tackling the root causes of sexual violence in a sustainable manner,

Commending the sustained and vital commitment of the African Union Mission in Somalia, the sacrifices it has made, and affirming the importance of continued efforts to provide human rights training and training on other international obligations to its and Somali security forces, with the support of the United Nations Support Office for the African Union Mission in Somalia,

Recognizing the role of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development in working towards peace and stabilization in Somalia,

Recognizing also the role of the international community, including across the United Nations system, in facilitating progress and development in Somalia through coordinated support to Somalia and, in particular, in supporting the implementation of its human rights road map and facilitating the monitoring of its effectiveness,

1. Decides to hold, from within existing resources, at its twenty-fourth session, a stand-alone high-level interactive dialogue with the aim of exploring how all stakeholders can work effectively towards the finalisation and implementation of the road map and the realization of human rights in Somalia;

2. Also decides to invite to the above-mentioned high-level interactive dialogue the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a high-level representation from the Federal Government of Somalia, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Somalia, the Special Representative of the African Union to Somalia, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, senior representatives of relevant United Nations agencies and other relevant stakeholders;

3. Requests the Office of the High Commissioner to provide a summary of the key conclusions of the high-level dialogue pertaining to how to ensure maximum effectiveness of technical and other assistance to  Somalia and to ensuring implementation of  the road map at the national and subnational levels in Somalia.”

                                *    Non-member State of the Human Rights Council.