11 November 2013 (Mareeg.com) The Federal Government of Somalia and Human Rights Watch share the same agenda of
defending and championing human rights in Somalia and welcome today’s report.
Government spokesperson, said:
“Rape and sexual violence against women are completely unacceptable in Somali
culture, are against our laws and have no place in the new Somalia. The Federal
Government of Somalia is determined and committed to the promotion and protection of
human rights and tackling the root causes of sexual violence and exploitation.
“After two decades of civil war our state institutions in the new Somalia are
in their infancy and it will take time to develop and evolve these institutions so
that they inspire public confidence. There is no space for impunity in Somalia; men
found guilty of rape in recent months have faced the most severe sentence under
Somali law.
“Practical steps have already been taken to put an end to sexual violence with
government troops now receiving training on human rights and gender equality. The
government will adopt any suitable recommendations made by the technical committee.
“We appreciate the response of Human Rights Watch. However, we believe that
the situation is more nuanced. We invite Human Rights Watch and other international
organizations to support Somali Government in its effort to fight Sexual Violence
and other Human Rights abuses.
“It is important to note Somalia’s proactive engagement with the United Nations
Human Rights Council since 2008 that have resulted into the adoption of ten
important resolutions with an unprecedented number of co-sponsorships from member
states across all the regional groups, the positive outcome of its first cycle of
Universal Periodic Review in 2011 and the acceptance of 151 recommendations out of
155 as well as the two high level interactive dialogue sessions. Additionally, on
the 27 August 2013 the Council of Ministers adopted the historic post transition
Human Rights Road Map in the aftermath of a broad-based consultations inter alia
with civil society groups. At the end of that
extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet, H.E. Prime Minister Abdi Farah
Shirdon ruled that 27 August would become the day of human rights in
Somalia!
“Time has come for the international community to proactively engage with the
Federal Government of Somalia in order to promote and protect all the human rights
especially of the most vulnerable through the timely and tangible enhancement of the
line institutions at national and sub-national levels with benchmarks on both
sides”.
END
Ahmed Adan
Prime Minister’s Media Office
Mogadishu, Somalia