Somalia
Somalia’s long-running armed conflict has been characterized by extremism, sectarian political violence, complex humanitarian crises, and piracy, and women have been disproportionately at risk of death and as targets of sexual and gender-based violence and displacement.
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for women’s political participation, women’s meaningful and active participation in design and implementation of humanitarian responses, and strengthened mechanisms to prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence.
Somalia
Somalia’s long-running armed conflict has been characterized by extremism, sectarian political violence, complex humanitarian crises, and piracy. Women have been disproportionately at risk of death, and as targets of sexual and gender-based violence and displacement.
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for women’s political participation, women’s meaningful and active participation in design and implementation of humanitarian responses, and strengthened mechanisms to prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Somalia (February 2012)
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.
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.
Relevant Resources
