Somalia
NGOWG MAP Recommendations | NGO Resources
NGOWG MAP Recommendations
Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for February 2012
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for February 2012, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The Security Council is due to consider a new strategy that the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council has outlined for the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM), including an expansion of its military capabilities and operations. The NGOWG therefore urges the Council to:
- Call on all international forces engaged in Somalia to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians, including women and girls, in full compliance with international humanitarian law, including verification that targets are military objectives, and using means and methods of warfare that comply with the principle of distinction;
- Call for the establishment of an independent and impartial commission of inquiry, or similar mechanism, to investigate and map gender and other crimes under international law committed in Somalia, and recommend further measures for accountability;
- Expressly require that all reports of the involvement of AU troops, and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and allied militia, in unlawful attacks and other abuses, are independently, promptly and fully investigated and suspected perpetrators brought to justice in fair trials;
- Call on all states to respect the UN arms embargo on Somalia, including the obligation to request exemptions from the UN Sanctions Committee for any security sector assistance to the TFG;
- Call on the TFG to operate an impartial recruitment screening mechanism, to exclude persons under the age of 18, or persons reasonably suspected of violations of humanitarian law or human rights abuses, pending independent and impartial investigations; and
- Call on all AU Member States to allow entry to any individual fleeing from conflict in Somalia; to protect and assist them; and not to forcibly return them to South and Central Somalia.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for January 2012
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for January 2012, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
Security at the Dadaab refugee camp in Kenya continues to deteriorate. More than 463,000 refugees, mostly Somalis, live in the camp, with new refugees arriving on a daily basis. Insecurity in Dadaab has constrained the ability of aid agencies to deliver basic services, and gender-based violence, including sexual violence, is endemic. In its discussions regarding the situation in Somalia, the Security Council should ensure it thoroughly addresses the impact of the Somali refugee crisis on regional peace and security. The Council should urge host governments to respect refugee law, and donor governments to provide necessary development and humanitarian assistance, as well as share responsibility with the Kenyan government for Somali refugees, including by substantially increasing resettlement programmes for Somali refugees to third countries. The Council should also support necessary funding to UNHCR to deploy sufficient protection staff to Somali refugee camps in the region, and to monitor human rights violations against Somali refugees, including those committed by the Kenyan security forces. In addition, the Council should support the Kenyan government in deploying additional police officers to Dadaab to improve security. The Council should support the Kenyan government in ensuring that police officers deployed to Dadaab are trained in human rights, including gender issues and refugee law, and made accountable for any human rights violations they are found responsible for committing.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for December 2011
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for December 2011, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The Council is expected to hold meetings on Somalia. The protection of civilians, including women and girls from gender-based violence, remains an urgent concern. The effects of recent developments on the rights of women should be given special attention, including the Kenyan military incursion in Somalia and recurrent reports of looting of aid, and intra-TFG and clan militia fighting in Mogadishu. The Council is urged to reinforce the central role women play in conflict resolution, and to require that UN’s human rights monitoring and reporting capacity be strengthened, to effectively enable – where security conditions allow – prompt and public reporting on the human rights situation of women affected by the conflict.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for November 2011
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for November 2011, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The latest developments in Somalia require urgent attention from the Security Council, including in its November discussions on sanctions and on piracy, and in its briefing by the Department of Political Affairs. Kenya’s military intervention in Somalia to help root out the armed Islamist group al Shabab risks further insecurity for civilians in Somalia, Somali refugees, and asylum-seekers in Kenya. In IDP camps in South and Central Somalia, including Mogadishu, now mostly controlled by the Transitional Federal Government, women and girls remain at serious risk of sexual and other gender-based violence. The Council is urged to:
- Request a briefing on the protection of civilians, on aerial bombardments, and on acts of sexual violence; and stress that all parties to the conflict in Somalia, including the Kenyan army, take further measures to avoid civilian casualties;
- Demand a prompt, full, impartial, and public investigation into reports of Kenyan aerial bombardments resulting in deaths and injury to civilians, as was well as disrupting relief distribution; and
- Demand rapid responses to allegations of rape and other crimes against women and girls, including care for survivors; and impartial investigations with a view to ensuring justice, including increased support to rebuild the justice system in Somalia.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for September 2011
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for September 2011, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The Security Council is due to receive the Secretary-General‟s next report on Somalia. The catastrophic humanitarian situation caused by drought is exacerbating the ongoing food shortages, drought and armed conflict, continuing to cause a massive displacement of people, as well as severe malnutrition. The chaos is increasing due to massive population displacement, as people seek refuge in neighboring countries. Gender-based violence is spreading, with women particularly exposed to the high insecurity and rape in the different refugee camps. The forthcoming Secretary-General‟s report should provide gender-disaggregated data regarding the current situation, and concrete recommendations on how to ensure support for women‟s empowerment and protection, given the humanitarian crisis and ongoing attempts at conflict resolution.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for September 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for September 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The last Secretary-General’s report (S/2010/234) on Somalia re-states Somali women’s special vulnerability due to pervasive level of gender-based violence, acknowledging that women continue to face arbitrary detention, restriction of movement, and other human rights violations. However, it fails to detail the situation on the ground. The next report should highlight: the need for improvement of women’s representation within AMISOM, and the need for pre-operation training on gender issues; recording human rights violations perpetrated by all actors, including AMISOM personnel, and ending impunity for these abuses; if women are being included in all reconciliation initiatives between the TFG and Shabaabs/HBI; an assessment of IDPs’ vulnerability and their needs; an assessment of the impact of SALW on the population, particularly women; women’s participation in politics and the judiciary, and steps needed to ensure women’s access to justice; civil society’s role in action on human rights violations; the impact on women of the lack of adequate humanitarian assistance; and consequences of piracy on the civilian population.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for July 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for July 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The forthcoming report on Somalia will likely reflect the difficulty in gathering accurate and reliable information from the country. As noted in the May MAP, the inaccessibility in the region for humanitarian workers must not be taken as an indication that women’s human rights are being respected. Any forthcoming technical assessments of the situation must include gender expertise.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for May 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for May 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The forthcoming report on Somalia will likely reflect the difficulty in gathering accurate and reliable information from the country. As noted in the April MAP, the inaccessibility in the region for humanitarian workers must not be taken as an indication that women’s human rights are being respected. Any forthcoming technical assessments of the situation must include gender expertise.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for April 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for April 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
With the report due in the Council, and plans for a UN mission in Somalia still underway, the inaccessibility in the region for humanitarian workers must not be taken as an absence of the violation of women’s human rights in particular. Any technical assessments of the situation must include gender expertise.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for January 2010
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for January 2010, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The AMISOM report is due in the Council in January, and planning is underway for a UN mission in Somalia. In light of the grave humanitarian situation in Somalia, the Security Council’s discussion on such a mandate should:
- Take immediate steps to protect civilians, particularly women, such as disarmament and small arms embargo enforcement.
- Provide necessary measures to ensure the rights of women and women’s rights defenders.
- Provide well-resourced and politically-supported gender advice in the mission to meet the needs of women in Somalia, and to engage with civil society members in the country, including supporting women’s inclusion in all levels of decision making.
- Ensure that all peacekeeping troops deployed to the region are trained regarding specific mandates on women, peace and security, and on protection.
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Monthly Action Points on Women, Peace & Security for November 2009
NGO Working Group on Women, Peace & Security
In the MAP for November 2009, the NGOWG had several recommendations for the Security Council on the current situation in Somalia:
The Secretary General’s report on a potential mission to Somalia will likely be discussed in the Council in November. Despite the absence of specific gender expertise in the Technical Assessment Mission earlier this year, the mandate for such a mission must thoroughly address all aspects of women’s rights in conflict, and should:
- Take immediate steps to protect civilians, particularly women, such as disarmament and small arms embargo enforcement
- Provide necessary measures to ensure the rights of women and women’s rights defenders
- Provide well-resourced and politically-supported gender advice in the mission, to meet the needs of women in Somalia, and to engage with civil society members in the country, including supporting women’s inclusion in all levels of decision making
- Ensure that all peacekeeping troops deployed to the region are trained regarding specific mandates on women, peace and security, and on protection.
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NGO Resources
Kenya: Respect Law in Somalia Military Operations
18 November 2011
Human Rights Watch
Link
Statement to African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights: Human Rights Situation in Africa
24 October 2011
Amnesty International
Link
Somalia: Al-Shabaab Attack Indefensible
5 October 2011
Human Rights Watch
Link
Universal jurisdiction: a preliminary survey of legislation around the world
5 October 2011
Amnesty International
Link
Somalia: Civilians pay the price of bomb attack in Mogadishu
5 October 2011
Amnesty International
Link
Update on the IRC’s drought response in Africa
19 August 2011
International Rescue Committee
Link
Somalia/Kenya: Women fleeing famine at risk from armed sexual violence
19 August 2011
International Action Network on Small Arms
Link
“You Don’t Know Who to Blame”: War Crimes in Somalia
14 August 2011
Human Rights Watch
Link
7 ways the U.S. can fight drought in Africa
29 July 2011
International Rescue Committee
Link
SOMALIA: UN Voices Concern About Sexual Violence Against Fleeing Somali Women
15 August 2010
PeaceWomen
Link
Harsh War, Harsh Peace
19 April 2010
Human Rights Watch
Link
Somalia: International Military and Policing Assistance Should be Reviewed
21 January 2010
Amnesty International
Link
Somalia: Unlawful killings and torture demonstrate Al Shabaab’s contempt for the lives of civilians
24 November 2009
Amnesty International
Link
Somalia: Amnesty International calls for accountability and safeguards on arms transfers to Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government
11 August 2009
Amnesty International
Link
Somalia, Routinely Targeted: Attacks on Civilians in Somalia
May 2008
Amnesty International
Link
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