Brussels, 26 November 2013**
Mareeg.com-The Somali government is putting human rights and development
“centre-stage” of its bold reforming agenda, Her Excellency Fawzia Yusuf
H. Adam, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister says today.
Speaking at a high-level EU Development summit in Brussels, the Deputy Prime
Minister will give an upbeat assessment of progress during the government’s
one year in office. As part of its rights-based approach to development and the war
against extremists, the administration was prioritising education and youth
employment.
“Make no mistake, education and employment are absolutely critical to wean
young Somalis away from extremists. My message today is that they must both be seen
as part of the war against Al Shabaab,” the Deputy Prime Minister says.
The government has been working closely with the UN, EU and other international
partners to develop a Somali-owned Human Rights Road Map with a new Directorate
General for Human and Minority Rights and the Rule of Law. Earlier in the year, the
UN’s Independent Human Rights Expert on Somalia Dr. Shamsul Bari, visited
Mogadishu and gave the new government a vote of confidence, arguing that “the
rule of law and justice were taking root” and that there was “a bright
future ahead”.
The worst abuser of human rights in Somalia was Al Shabaab, says the Deputy Prime
Minister, the group that Somali religious scholars recently issued a fatwa against.
“Their wanton violence, their treatment of women and minorities, their
blockade of humanitarian aid to the vulnerable populations, and their opposition to
schools and clinics in areas that they control are clear indications that Al Shabaab
is a force that must be met with unified international resolve to destroy.”
Summarising the situation in Somalia, the Deputy PM says optimism is “the new
buzz word. We are now at an exciting time in Somalia where we are rebuilding
institutions and government virtually from scratch. We are moving from a period of
conflict and anarchy towards peace and the rule of law. No longer a failed state, we
are well and truly back on the map.”
The high-level summit includes the President of the European Commission, the
Presidents of Liberia and Niger and the Prime Ministers of Jamaica, Lithuania and
Cape Verde and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
**ENDS**
For further information please contact:
Abdirahman Omar Osman (Eng. Yarisow)
Senior Advisor & Spokesperson
Office of the President
The Federal Republic of Somalia
