Situation of human rights in Somalia

Situation of human rights in Somalia

UN expert tasks Somalia on human rights roadmap - UN Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Mr. Shamsul Bari, on Thursday urged the Somali government to finalize and carry out a human rights roadmap endorsed by the cabinet in August.

PANA in New York, reports that a UN statement said the roadmap defines the government’s responsibilities and sets goals to be achieved in a short period of time.

Mr. Bari stated: 'Finalizing it would demonstrate a sincere commitment by government to rebuild the foundation and structures of human rights in Somalia.'

He called on the country’s new Prime Minister, Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, and the international community to seize the opportunity to build a new Somalia 'where the rule of law and respect of human rights for all Somalis would be the norm'.

He also stressed that the roadmap offers 'a unique opportunity' for the advancement of human rights in Somalia, and advised the government to consult with regional administrations and civil society organisations throughout the country to finalize it.

The roadmap, an initiative proposed by the UN expert to the Somali authorities, is based on key human rights themes, each containing its own action plan to be implemented by ministries, and sets out a post-transition strategy running until 2015.