Human Rights in Somalia post the Horn of Africa food crisis
• The Dual Track Policy
• London Conference on Somalia
• Conclusion
• Questions to be considered
• Supplementary Reading
• Other Sources
Human Rights in Somalia post the Horn of Africa food crisis
Introduction
Since the overthrow of Siad Barre’s government, Somalia has suffered a human rights crisis for the last 20 years, characterized by serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The protection of civilians in the context of the armed conflict, combined with impunity and lack of accountability, is of major concern. The lack of rule of law and the climate of insecurity has created an environment in which certain categories of professionals, such as journalists and judges, are increasingly targeted for extrajudicial killings. An entire generation has grown up with access to education and the country as a whole suffers from a lack of knowledge about human rights. Women and children’s rights are routinely violated. Year after year it is ranked as one of the poorest, most violent countries, plagued by warring militias, bandits, warlords and pirates.
The collapse of the humanitarian situation owing to the Horn of Africa food crisis has further aggravated the human rights crisis and resulted in massive displacement of Somalis from the Southern regions into TFG-controlled territories and across the borders into Ethiopia and Kenya. The vulnerability of the displaced has raised acute protection concerns.
In 2011, The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights facilitated Somalia’s engagement in the Universal Period Review of the Human Rights Council. Somalia accepted, fully or in partial, all 155 recommendations formulated by Member States for the improvement of its human rights situation. These recommendations cover a wide range of issues, such as the political process, peace and reconciliation, the protection of civilians in the context of the armed conflict, ratification of international human rights instruments, the
• London Conference on Somalia
• Conclusion
• Questions to be considered
• Supplementary Reading
• Other Sources
Human Rights in Somalia post the Horn of Africa food crisis
Introduction
Since the overthrow of Siad Barre’s government, Somalia has suffered a human rights crisis for the last 20 years, characterized by serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law. The protection of civilians in the context of the armed conflict, combined with impunity and lack of accountability, is of major concern. The lack of rule of law and the climate of insecurity has created an environment in which certain categories of professionals, such as journalists and judges, are increasingly targeted for extrajudicial killings. An entire generation has grown up with access to education and the country as a whole suffers from a lack of knowledge about human rights. Women and children’s rights are routinely violated. Year after year it is ranked as one of the poorest, most violent countries, plagued by warring militias, bandits, warlords and pirates.
The collapse of the humanitarian situation owing to the Horn of Africa food crisis has further aggravated the human rights crisis and resulted in massive displacement of Somalis from the Southern regions into TFG-controlled territories and across the borders into Ethiopia and Kenya. The vulnerability of the displaced has raised acute protection concerns.
In 2011, The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights facilitated Somalia’s engagement in the Universal Period Review of the Human Rights Council. Somalia accepted, fully or in partial, all 155 recommendations formulated by Member States for the improvement of its human rights situation. These recommendations cover a wide range of issues, such as the political process, peace and reconciliation, the protection of civilians in the context of the armed conflict, ratification of international human rights instruments, the