Sunday September 10, 2023
The African Union (AU) Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) said it has wrapped up a five-day training course to sharpen skills for Somali public officers in human rights and civilian protection.
The training, which was conducted in the port city of Kismayo, southern Somalia, saw 21 officers from Jubaland State ministries and civil society organizations equipped with the necessary knowledge on how to protect and promote human rights in their respective regions.
"We expect that the participants will cascade it to different sectors of the society and make sure we generate a large number of trainers," Gloria Jaase, the civilian sector coordinator and protection officer at the ATMIS, said in a statement issued in the Somali capital of Mogadishu on Friday evening.
Jaase said one of the AU mission's mandates is to promote human rights protection and to ensure that human rights are respected in their operations and those of their counterparts.
The participants will be part of a team that will be sent to different parts of Jubaland to train locals and various interest groups on human rights and civilian protection.
The ATMIS said the training focused on deepening the participants' understanding of key principles of international human rights law, including human rights frameworks, children's rights, women's rights, and the protection of internally displaced people.
Since its involvement in Somalia, the ATMIS has maintained a solid commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights in Somalia, coupled with capacity building for the Somali Security Forces and the local community, in compliance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2628 (2022).
Ayan Mohamed Hassan, a member of Jubaland civil society, said the training will enhance his knowledge and capacity in monitoring and documenting violations of human rights in the community.
"This workshop is essential because it has taught me about individual rights, which will help me understand our own fundamental rights. Once we are enlightened, we will also know the best practices of not violating others' rights," she said.