Hiiraan Online
Thursday, July 07, 2011
The African Union peace keeping mission to Somalia (AMISOM) on Monday opened a caucus in Rwanda’s capital Kigali discussing on how to enhance and respect humanitarian law on the implementation of its peace mission in the Horn of Africa nation.
The three day event was attended by participants from AMISOM troop contributing countries, the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia (TFG), Somali civil society, human rights organizations, professionals, training institutions, research and policy advocacy organizations and the media.
“The theme of the discussion revolves around enhancing the respect of international humanitarian law on the implementation of AMISOM mandate” said one Hiiraan Online Manager who attended the function
Officials of the beleaguered TFG also attended the high profile discussion including Somalia’s minister of state and office of prime minister Sahro Samatar and Somalia’s chief of general staff Abdikadir Sheikh Ali among others.
The roundtable comes after the recent outcome of the 279th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) meeting held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 18th May 2011. The PSC has been rooting for an improved respect for international human rights law in the fragile country.
Top on agenda for the previous PSC meeting was protection of civilian non-combatants in the armed conflicts raging hot in Somalia as the TFG pursues to dismantle insurgency group Al-shabaab.
According to a recent report Somalia’s human right history is on a worsening trend and with the absence of a stable of government, civilian populations will have to groan under the weight of protracted violations.
Discrimination and violence against women, including rape are common occurrence. Child abuse, recruitment of child soldiers, trafficking in persons, abuse of and discrimination against clan and religious minorities are other forms of violations.