somalia: HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS IN SOMALIA REQUIRE SERIOUS ATTENTION

PRESS RELEASE

INDEPENDENT EXPERT SAYS HUMAN RIGHTS PROBLEMS IN SOMALIA REQUIRE SERIOUS ATTENTION

Nairobi (4 September 2002) – The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Dr. Ghanim Alnajjar, as called on local leaders, civil society organizations, and the international community to work together to address serious human rights problems throughout Somalia, and advocated for the establishment of national and regional Independent Human Rights Commissions.

“Independent Human Rights Commissions are important because they allow people to express concerns and to speak directly and constantly with local authorities to promote human rights,” Dr. Alnajjar said. After visiting northwest Somalia (Somaliland) and northeast Somalia (Puntland), he noted that authorities in both places have agreed to the establishment of such commissions, which he lauded as a positive development.

Dr. Alnajjar met with Puntland “President” Abdillahi Yusuf, who agreed to the unconditional release of five political detainees and to look into the possibility of repealing the current state of emergency. He expressed concern about reports of killings and imprisonments during the recent fighting there. The Independent Expert noted with satisfaction the work done by the Puntland Peace Mission to promote conflict resolution through its efforts to mediate between rivals Abdilaahi Yusuf and Jama Ali Jama.

In Somaliland, Dr. Alnajjar met with “President” Dahir Riyale Kahin. He noted the peaceful transfer of power after the death of former “President” Mohamed Egal, the emergence of democratic processes and party-based politics, and was pleased that authorities agreed to grant amnesty to a journalist who had been jailed for three days. Dr. Alnajjar noted that domestic violence remains a problem, and talked with local women’s groups about setting up a shelter for victims.

The team looked into a variety of pressing human rights concerns, including the state of the judicial system, law enforcement and prison conditions, the challenges of demobilization and child soldiers, economic and social rights, the status of women, human rights education, and
difficulties faced by tens of thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs).

“I call upon the international community and local authorities to pay more attention to the internally displaced, and for more coordinated action to alleviate their appalling conditions,” Dr. Alnajjar said. There are some 320,000 internally displaced in Somalia, with most living in abject poverty and in areas under the control of armed faction leaders.

Insecurity prevented the Independent Expert’s three-person team from traveling to the capital Mogadishu or the southwestern town of Baidoa. “I am concerned that, since my last visit one year ago, there has been an escalation of violence in parts of Somalia and a deterioration in security, which is having an impact on the human rights of thousands of ordinary people,” Dr. Alnajjar said, noting that

This is Dr. Alnajjar’s second annual visit to the country since being appointed Independent Expert for Somalia by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001. Dr. Alnajjar, a professor of Political Science at the University of Kuwait, carries out his duties on an independent and voluntary basis. Dr. Alnajjar’s visit will result in a follow-up report to his initial findings from last year, published as E/CN.4/2002/119 and available at www.unhchr.ch.

For further information, please contact:

Sonya Laurence Green, Information Officer
UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office for Somalia
Tel: +254-2-4448434, Fax: +254 2 4448439, Email: [email protected]