UN Authority Figures

UN Human Rights Council: Somalia

Sexual violence is pervasive in Somalia, but most cases go unreported because of the accompanying stigma. Many people turn to customary law – conducted by clan elders – which often results in victims marrying their assailants while their families are given some cash compensation. Recently, there has been a rise in the number of reported cases of sexual violence involving children.
Source: The Guadian, May 17, 2018

Mission of the Human Rights Council:
"The General Assembly...2. Decides that the Council shall be responsible for promoting universal respect for the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, without distinction of any kind and in a fair and equal manner; 3. Decides also that the Council should address situations of violations of human rights, including gross and systematic violations, and make recommendations thereon..." (Resolution 60/251)

Somalia's Term of office: 2019-2021, reelected to new term 2022-2024

Somalia's Record on human rights:
"Significant human rights issues included: unlawful or arbitrary killings, including extrajudicial killings, by government forces; torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment by the government; arbitrary arrest or detention; political prisoners or detainees; serious problems with the independence of the judiciary; serious abuses in an internal conflict, including killing of civilians, enforced disappearances or abductions, torture and physical abuses or punishment, unlawful recruitment or use of child soldiers, and other conflict-related abuses; serious restrictions on free expression, the press, and the internet, including violence, threats of violence, or unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists, and criminal libel laws; inability of citizens to change their government peacefully through free and fair elections; restrictions on political participation; pervasive acts of corruption; lack of investigation of and accountability for violence against women; crimes involving violence or threats of violence targeting members of national/racial/ethnic minority groups; existence or use of laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults; and existence of the worst forms of child labor, including recruitment of children for use in armed conflict, forced labor, and commercial sexual exploitation. Impunity generally remained the norm."
(U.S. State Department's Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2020, Somalia)

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