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Thursday, October 01, 2009
Geneva (UNHRC) - The Human Rights Council this morning started its consideration of its agenda item on technical assistance and capacity-building, hearing presentations of reports by the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Cambodia and the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, and holding interactive dialogues with them.
Shamsul Bari, the Independent Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia, said that in his report last March, the Independent Expert had described the situation in Somalia to be one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world today; he maintained that view, and believed that life for the ordinary people in areas affected by recent upsurge of fighting and violence had become even worse. The renewed violence had heavily impacted on the civilian population in the affected areas - more people had been killed, many more had been internally displaced or forced to seek refuge in neighbouring countries, and there had been human rights violations caused as a result of this violence and other reasons. In terms of senseless killings and mayhem, inhuman suffering and deprivations, Somalia seemed to surpass other crises in the world. And yet, the international community's attention to it had been woefully insufficient. He could not over-emphasise the importance of concerted international effort to bring the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, one of the contemporary world's longest and most painful crises, to an end in the shortest possible time, and it was imperative for the international community to show greater resolve in finding a solution.
Somalia, speaking as a concerned country, said that Somalia could not agree more with the exhaustive report that the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia had presented before this Council. There were two main and interconnected challenges that any Somali Government would have to face. The first challenge consisted of the harmonization between Somalia's traditional system and the modern and suitable federal statehood, as well as the harmonization between the genuine Islamic Sharia Law, the Somali Customary Law and the Modern Law. The second challenge was that the statehood of Somalia itself was at stake. To this end, a strengthened commitment of international agencies and United Nations bodies was indispensable.
Somalia looked forward to having a comprehensive, constructive and far-sighted cooperation process with all genuine stakeholders and friends of Somalia in order to enhance the prevention of all human rights abuses.
In the interactive dialogue with the International Expert on the human rights situation in Somalia, speakers welcomed the valuable efforts of the Independent Expert and fully appreciated the contents of the report which emphasized the tragic humanitarian situation in Somalia. The situation had greatly deteriorated in the past few months. This had led to an influx of refugees. A political solution was indispensable in order to build capacity for the protection of human rights. The international community should give the necessary support to the Government of Somalia to help it restore security and stability. The efforts of the international community to stabilise Somalia was of great importance. The Independent Expert should carry out his work in close collaboration with other bodies working in Somalia. The presence of the Minister of Gender of Somalia clearly signaled the determination of the Transitional Government of Somalia to continue to cooperate with the Human Rights Council and the mandate-holder. The Somali crisis affected the whole of the international community. The current situation could evolve positively, depending on the Somali Government's capacity to manage the various dimensions of the crisis. The Government of Somalia was the only hope, as it was only through a strong State that peace would spread, as well as international security. Speakers repeatedly expressed support for the renewal of the mandate of the Independent Expert based on the expressed wishes of Somalia.
Speaking in the interactive dialogue on Somalia were Tunisia on behalf of the Arab Group, Sweden on behalf of the European Union, Nigeria on behalf of the African Group, Italy, Yemen, Djibouti, Australia, Algeria, Norway, United States, Ethiopia, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Organization of the Islamic Conference, Egypt, Canada and Bangladesh.
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