Somalia ready to lead new phase of human rights cooperation, Minister tells UN Human Rights Council

Geneva (SONNA) - Somalia is ready to lead the new phase of its human rights cooperation with the United Nations, to fulfil its obligations and to work openly with the Human Rights Council, the Minister of Family and Human Rights Development, Khadija Mohamed Al-Makhzoumi, has told the Council.

The Minister delivered Somalia’s statement on Thursday at the 63rd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, during the dialogue on the report of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Somalia, presented under Council resolution 60/28.

She highlighted the establishment and operationalisation of the Independent National Human Rights Commission, which now has its leadership and members in place, and said the Commission’s capacity and its reach to communities needed to be strengthened.

The Minister also set out the Government’s efforts to advance the rights of women, children and families, including the ratification of key international treaties to which Somalia is not yet a party and the completion of important bills.

Somalia has supported 259 of the recommendations it received in the fourth cycle of its Universal Periodic Review, the Minister told the Council, and her Ministry will coordinate their follow-up and implementation. She called for the OHCHR office in Mogadishu to become fully operational, and for support to national institutions and protection services.

In a statement after the session, the Minister described the occasion as “a historic milestone” that reflects Somalia’s “growing national capacity, ownership and commitment to advancing and protecting human rights.” She thanked national institutions, partners and stakeholders for the support that had brought Somalia to this point.

Somalia, she told the Council, is committed to remaining open to cooperation and accountability, and will measure its progress by results that reach the people.