UK statement for the Interactive Dialogue with the Independent Expert on Somalia. Delivered by the UK’s Permanent Representative to the WTO and UN, Simon Manley.
Thank you.
Let me thank the Independent Expert. We look forward to the renewal of her mandate. We welcome the presence of the Director General from the Ministry of Family and Human Rights Development and his team from Mogadishu.
We welcome the Somali government’s formation of an inter-ministerial technical working group on human rights and efforts to accede to the UN Conventions against Transnational Organised Crime and Corruption, as well as the government’s passing of the Disability Rights Bill in August 2024.
We are concerned at the ongoing loss of civilian life due to conflict and insecurity, continuing cases of conflict-related sexual violence, and restrictions on the freedom of expression, including detention of journalists. Women and children, and those internally displaced, continue to be acutely vulnerable to human rights abuses.
We encourage the Somali government to strengthen the rule of law and enhance basic freedoms by finalising the establishment of the National Human Rights Commission, and ensuring that the constitutional review process and future legislation meets Somalia’s human rights obligations and is undertaken through a consultative process. The UK stands ready to work with Somalia on all these issues.
Ms Dyfan,
Looking forward, what HR benchmarks are most cause for concern, and what action can the UN and other international partners take to support Somalia to meet these over the next year?
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