The International Somalia Conference final Communique

We welcomed the dialogue between the Federal Government and Somaliland at Ankara in April 2013 to clarify their future relationship, building on the meeting at Chevening in June 2012, and welcomed the Ankara communiqué. We expressed our appreciation for the facilitating role played by Turkey.

The Somalia Conference took place at Lancaster House on 7 May 2013, co-hosted by the UK and Somalia, and attended by fifty-four friends and partners of Somalia.

We met at a pivotal moment for Somalia. Last year Somalia’s eight-year transition ended and Somalia chose a new, more legitimate Parliament, President and Government. Security is improving, as Somali and AMISOM forces, and their Ethiopian allies, recover towns and routes from Al Shabaab. The number of pirate attacks committed off the coast of Somalia has drastically reduced. The famine has receded. The diaspora have begun to return. The economy is starting to revive.

But many challenges remain. Al Shabaab is still a threat to peace and security. The constitution is not complete. Piracy and terrorism remain threats. Millions still live in Internally Displaced Persons and refugee camps. The country lacks developed government structures, schools, hospitals, sanitation and other basic services.

The Federal Government of Somalia has set out its plans to address these challenges in its Six Pillar Policy. At the Conference, the international community came together to agree practical measures to support the Federal Government’s plans in three key areas – security, justice and public financial management. The Federal Government presented its vision for the implementation of federalism, the adoption of a permanent constitution and holding of elections. We also agreed to work together to tackle sexual violence in Somalia.

We agreed that partnership between Somalia and the international community would form the basis of our future cooperation: the international community is committed to provide coordinated and sustained support for implementation of the Federal Government’s plans.

Political

We agreed that political progress remains the key to ensuring long-term stability for Somalia. We welcomed the Federal Government’s plans to resolve outstanding constitutional issues, including the sharing of power, resources and revenues between the Federal Government and the regions. We further welcomed the Government’s commitment to hold democratic elections in 2016. We reiterated our support for building capacity in democratic institutions throughout Somalia, beginning with support for local elections in Puntland next month.

We welcomed the dialogue on the future structure of Somalia that has begun between the Federal Government and the regions. We welcomed progress on forming regional administrations and looked forward to the completion of that process. We encouraged the regions to work closely with the Federal Government to form a cohesive national polity consistent with the provisional constitution.

We welcomed the IGAD Extraordinary Summit, held in Addis Ababa on 3 May under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, which agreed a framework for dialogue on regional issues. We looked forward to further progress ahead of a meeting of IGAD in the margins of the African Union Summit in May.

We welcomed the dialogue between the Federal Government and Somaliland at Ankara in April 2013 to clarify their future relationship, building on the meeting at Chevening in June 2012, and welcomed the Ankara communiqué. We expressed our appreciation for the facilitating role played by Turkey.

We welcomed the protection of fundamental rights in the constitution, and the Federal Government’s commitment to uphold human rights, including by establishing an independent National Human Rights Commission. We further welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to protect women and children, and take steps to end the involvement of children in armed conflict. We commended the recent visit of the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict to Somalia, and the plan for a Somali and international team of experts to make recommendations on how sexual violence could be addressed. We agreed on the important role a free and independent media should play in Somalia, and welcomed the Federal Government’s commitment to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the killing of journalists, and to promote press freedom.

Security
We shared the Federal Government’s view that security is the essential prerequisite for further progress in all other spheres. We commended the bravery and commitment of Somali and AMISOM forces, and those fighting alongside them. We expressed appreciation to countries contributing troops and police. We applauded the forces’ successes in freeing towns and routes from Al Shabaab. We reiterated the need for adequate and sustained funding for AMISOM, welcomed partners’ support to date, and called upon new donors to contribute.

We welcomed the Federal Government’s determination to take responsibility for providing Somalia’s security. We welcomed the Government’s plans for national security architecture and for developing its armed forces, including the integration of militias, and police. We welcomed the commitment to ensure that these security structures are accountable, inclusive, proportionate and sustainable; and respect a civilian chain of command, the rule of law, and human rights. We recognised the need for support to help the Government manage disengaged fighters.

We agreed to support implementation of the Federal Government’s security plans including through existing structures. We also agreed to provide assistance which should be coordinated by the Federal Government.

We welcomed the extension of AMISOM’s mandate for a further year in UN Security Council Resolution 2093. We noted the partial suspension of the arms embargo as recognition of political progress, and urged the Federal Government to fulfil its obligations to provide safeguards to protect Somalia’s citizens and neighbours.

We commended the Somalis and international partners for progress made in combating piracy over the last year including the efforts of Puntland and other regional or local governments and welcomed the Federal Government’s Maritime Resource and Security Strategy. We reiterated our determination to work with Somalia to eradicate piracy and other maritime crimes, and expressed our support for the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to establish internationally recognised Somali waters, which will help it protect its abundant maritime resources and revitalise economic activities, as well as end toxic dumping and illegal fishing. We welcomed international support to develop Somali maritime security capacities and looked forward to the UAE conference in Dubai on 11-12 September. We welcomed partners’ continued efforts to bring to justice to those behind piracy and positive, ongoing initiatives in Somalia and the region. We recognized the need for these efforts to be complemented by work on land to generate alternative livelihoods and support communities affected by piracy.

Justice and Policing

We welcomed the Federal Government’s vision for equal access for all to a robust, impartial and effective justice system. We commended its justice action plan setting out immediate priorities for assistance, developed at the National Dialogue on Justice in Mogadishu, and applauded this inclusive dialogue with stakeholders.

We welcomed the Government’s four-year action plan to create an accountable, effective and responsive police service for Somalis. We agreed to align our assistance for both justice and police behind Federal Government plans. We looked forward to the establishment of a Rule of Law Fund, under the leadership of the Federal Government, and invited UNDP and the Federal Government to present the agreed governance and technical arrangements for the fund at the Brussels Conference in September.

We committed to support the Government’s efforts to combat terrorism. An effective and secure criminal justice system, including the establishment and maintenance of prisons administered with respect for human dignity, will be central to Somalia’s ability to tackle terrorism in a human rights-compliant manner and reduce the threat from Al Shabaab in the long-term.

Public Financial Management

The Federal Government set out its determination to tackle corruption, and fund public services. We welcomed the Government’s four-year plan to establish transparent and effective public financial management systems. We encouraged the Federal Government to establish more robust controls through the Ministry of Finance’s operations including public reporting of budgets, expenditure and audits. We committed to coordinate assistance using the structure set out by the Government.

We acknowledged the Government’s financing gap and urgent need for short-term support to pay for salaries and operations while public financial management reforms are underway and until sufficient domestic revenues can be collected. In this context we welcomed the Federal Government’s creation of a Special Financing Facility as an early opportunity for the Federal Government to demonstrate its commitment to financial accountability and transparency.

In line with the outcomes of the G8 Foreign Ministers’ meeting, we welcomed the re-engagement of the International Financial Institutions (the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the International Monetary Fund), including IMF recognition of the Federal Government and progress made at the Spring Meetings.

We recognised the importance of investment and economic growth to increase domestic revenue. We encouraged investment into Somalia, recognising the important role the diaspora could play.

Rationalisation of Funding

The Federal Government appealed to its international partners to provide funding for Somali national plans. The Federal Government expressed its appreciation for continued bilateral support and asked partners to channel funding through mechanisms agreed with the Federal Government, such as the Special Financing Facility and the Rule of Law Fund, wherever possible. We looked forward to development of a longer term sustainable financing architecture for Somalia including a World Bank Multi-Donor Trust Fund which will be important on the path to normalisation of Somalia’s financial relationship with the International Financial Institutions.

Stabilisation

We welcomed the Federal Government’s efforts to develop major initiatives on stabilization, including a comprehensive strategy on disengaged fighters, alternative dispute resolution and at-risk youth. The Federal Government appealed for immediate support for stabilisation projects, to enable local administrations to provide services for their people.

Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons
We recognised the importance of scaling up efforts to create the conditions for the voluntary return and reintegration of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and refugees, in accordance with international law. We praised neighbouring countries for providing protection and assistance for refugees, and agreed to continue supporting them in shouldering this burden. We recognised that the return of refugees and IDPs should take place within a context of increased security conditions and livelihoods opportunities. We endorsed the tripartite dialogue initiated by the Somali and Kenyan governments alongside UNHCR to develop modalities and a framework for safe, orderly, sustainable return and resettlement of Somali refugees on a voluntary basis, and looked forward to the forthcoming conference in Nairobi.

Role of Multilateral Organisations and International Support

We recognised the role of the United Nations and the African Union in Somalia and welcomed their commitment to a strengthened strategic partnership. We underlined the importance of close coordination by both organisations with the Federal Government, other international and regional organisations, and Member States. We welcomed the creation of a new UN Assistance Mission (UNSOM) in Somalia and urged the UN to deploy the mission by the target date of 3 June. We recognised the important role of Somalia’s neighbours in promoting long-term stability in the region, and encouraged IGAD to continue to work to promote dialogue and mutual understanding. We underlined the importance of EU action through its commitments in the fields of security, development and humanitarian aid. We also recognised the role of the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Conference.

We recognised the valuable support provided by bilateral partners, and encouraged them to continue their efforts in coordination with others.

We acknowledged that the Somalia Conference was one of a series of events in 2013 aimed at providing international support to Somalia. We looked forward to the planned Special Conference on Somalia on the socio-economic development agenda in the margins of the fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V) in late May. Taking note of the Federal Government’s commitment to implement the New Deal engagement in fragile states in the form of a Compact, we welcomed Somalia’s efforts to develop an overarching reconstruction plan encompassing Somali priorities on inclusive politics, security, justice, economic foundations, revenue and services. We looked forward to the EU/Somalia Conference in Brussels in September.

Conclusion

The Conference agreed that Somalia had made significant progress. We congratulated all who had made that possible, notably the Somali people, Federal Government, Members of Parliament, civil society and diaspora. We commended the sustained commitment of Somalia’s international partners, and urged continued results-orientated support. We recognised the need to consolidate progress quickly and reiterated our determination to support Somalia over the long-term.

Source: British Foreign & Commonwealth Office

U.S. Assistance in Somalia

US Office of the Spokesperson
Washington, DC
May 7, 2013

U.S. assistance to Somalia aims to: help develop a stable government; ensure Somalia is not a safe-haven for terrorists; respond to and mitigate humanitarian crises; combat piracy; and prevent instability in Somalia from destabilizing the region. On January 17, 2013, the United States formally recognized the Federal Government of Somalia as an acknowledgement of the recent political and security gains in Somalia. Thanks to the hard-won successes of Somali and international security forces in Somalia, U.S. assistance reaches some areas previously inaccessible due to security concerns. The U.S. strategy in Somalia focuses primarily on supporting the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and Somalia’s National Security Forces (NSF) and supporting stabilization and development opportunities.

The United States is committed to assisting Somalia. At the second London Conference on Somalia on May 7, Deputy Secretary William J. Burns announced plans to provide, subject to Congressional notification, an additional nearly $40 million for Somalia. Since 2009, the United States has provided over $1.5 billion in assistance to Somalia, including $545 million in FY 2012. The U.S. Government hopes to continue substantial financial support to Somalia in future years that will support Somalia’s progress and transition to longer-term development. U.S. foreign assistance programs support security, development and humanitarian objectives, as outlined below.

Security Assistance – Security assistance is focused on two key efforts: support for peacekeeping operations, including the provision of training, equipment, and transportation to the troop contributors to AMISOM, and support to security sector reform activities and related mentoring, training, equipment, and logistical support for the NSF. Programs support the international community’s ongoing Security Sector Reform effort by building the capacity of civilian authorities to oversee Somalia’s new security institutions. As part of its stabilization strategy, the United States maintains operational support and capacity development of conventional weapons destruction programs in northern Somalia. The United States utilizes law enforcement, military, development, and public diplomacy expertise and resources to support the efforts of Somalia and other regional partners to build and sustain their own counterterrorism capabilities.

Development-related Assistance – U.S. assistance supports stabilization activities, democracy and governance, education, health, economic growth, and institutional capacity building in line with U.S. and Somali priorities. Assisting Somalis in the reestablishment of viable governance institutions is essential to support post-transition efforts, alleviate the humanitarian suffering there and in neighboring countries, and to reduce the appeal of extremism and piracy. In addition, U.S. assistance supports local authorities and private sector groups to improve the enabling environment for investment, generate more productive employment, and improve livelihoods in the targeted regions.

Humanitarian Assistance – The United States continues to provide needs-based humanitarian assistance in response to the ongoing emergency. These interventions include food assistance, health, nutrition, water, sanitation, and livelihoods programming to address immediate needs and, where appropriate, build the resilience of vulnerable households to recurrent shocks.



PRN: 2013/0528

Somalia receives super-jab - science

Abdul Wahab is just six months old so is unaware he has made history. He is one of the first children in Somalia to receive the pentavalent vaccine which should protect him against five deadly diseases.

His mother brought him to a health clinic in Mogadishu, where the jab takes a few moments.

She said: "I brought my son here to be immunized. I was told that immunisation prevents diseases. In the past four of my older children contracted measles because they were not immunised, but today I brought my youngest child to prevent him from getting sick." 

The vaccine, which is widely used around the world, was launched in Somalia at the end of April. Vaccination rates there are very poor, in some parts of the country as low as seven per cent, as the country's health system has been all but destroyed after decades of war.

World Health Organisation representative Dr Marthe Everard said: "The launch of the pentavalent vaccine is very important for Somali children, because it introduces two new antigens, especially for meningitis and for hepatitis B." 

The new five-in-one vaccine protects against Hepatitis B, diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus and the influenza which can cause meningitis. 

It should mean that children in Somalia have the chance to live longer.

Senior programme manager with the private-public GAVI Alliance Anne Cronin said: "There were 171,000 children under five years of age who died in Somalia last year. Clearly we want to make an impact by reducing that number in 2014."

More than a million doses of the vaccine have been provided to Somalia for the rest of the year. They will be used to immunise children under the age of one. Each child requires three doses before his or her first birthday.

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London's Somalia conference does not recognise Somaliland – we cannot go

As president of Somaliland I wish the conference well, but we cannot attend an event that ignores our history and our reality

President of Somaliland H. E. Ahmed Mohamed Mohamoud Siilaanyo

guardian.co.uk,

The Horn of Africa has for too long been one of the world's most troubled regions. It has been defined, for good reason, by conflict, repression, famine, terrorism and piracy.

So it is a sign of hope that 50 countries and organisations will meet in London this week to discuss how to help the new government of Somalia forge a better future for its citizens. This high-profile conference shows Somalia is getting international attention.

The new government needs support in rebuilding state institutions and its shattered economy. Britain's re-opening of its embassy last month shows security is slowly improving although recent terrorist attacks in Mogadishu show the scale of the challenge.

Somaliland wishes the conference well. Increased international attention and support for Somalia and the wider region is in everyone's interest. But with real regret, we will not be attending.

This is not because of any ill-feeling to Britain or to Somalia, who are co-hosting the conference. Britain has been one of Somaliland's staunchest friends and we are hugely grateful for its generous support. We are also now establishing relations with the new government in Somalia.

It is just that we cannot take part in a conference that does not recognise Somaliland's unique status or move forward our long fight for international recognition.

I accept that this will be confusing to those not immersed in the troubled history and politics of this region.

Somaliland is still treated officially by international organisations as an autonomous region of Somalia, but this ignores both history and reality. Our two countries were separate until 1960 when a disastrous, but voluntary, decision was made to merge with Somalia. In fact we gained our independence from the UK before Somalia did from Italy.

The union, unhappy almost from the beginning, fractured permanently when the Somali regime of Mohamed Siad Barre waged a brutal war against Somaliland in the 80s in which 50,000 civilians lost their lives. As Somalia disintegrated into chaos, Somaliland in 1991 took the opportunity again to control its own future.

Over the past two decades, we have worked hard to build a stable and democratic state. We have put in place functioning state institutions including police and armed forces. Terrorists find no safe haven within our territory nor do pirates operate off our coasts.

Since 2000, we have held five national elections, judged by international experts as free and fair, which have seen power transferred peacefully. Our government has introduced free primary education for girls and boys. Progress is being made in reducing child mortality and female genital mutilation. Foreign investment is beginning to flow back in to help strengthen our economy.

There are, of course, many challenges still to overcome. Somaliland remains poor – it takes time to recover from the devastating impact of such a brutal conflict. But by providing a virtual oasis of good governance, peace and security in the Horn of Africa, we are shaping a better future for our country and citizens.

This future includes a better relationship with our neighbours in Somalia. We have actively pursued dialogue and, last year, I signed an agreement with the former Somali president, Sharif Ahmed, to build trust and improve relations. On 13 April this year, I met President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud in Ankara to resume the dialogue.

We have set out an ambitious agenda to work together to tackle terrorism, extremism, piracy, illegal fishing, toxic dumping and other serious crimes. Such co-operation is important not only for our two countries but also for the wider region and world.

But such partnership also requires agreement and international recognition of a permanent political settlement over the status of Somaliland. We are not asking the international community to take a chance on what Somaliland might become or build. We simply want recognition of the reality that has now existed for 20 years.

From 1960 to 1991, we gave unity a chance. It failed disastrously. We have now forged again our own future. We deserve the chance to fulfil our ambitions.

This is why, although we wish the conference in London well, we will not be attending. And why we hope that we can soon play our role in building peace and prosperity across the Horn of Africa as full and equal partners.

Ilkley adventurer vows to continue Africa quest

Intrepid traveller Christopher Stanfield, who has completed his 2,000-mile trek across Africa

By Amanda Greaves

An adventurer who trekked 2,000 miles across Africa is continuing his mission to raise cash – and awareness of a maternity hospital in Somaliland.

Christopher Stanfield, of Ilkley, set off on his long-distance walk from Egypt to Somaliland in September last year, and arrived at the Edna Adan University Hospital, Hargeisa, in January.

But his efforts to raise international awareness of the hospital’s work, and raise money for the cause, are set to continue.

He filmed the journey in its entirety for a documentary he plans to release, and is writing a book about the trek which he hopes will contribute to positive change.

A day of fundraising for the hospital will take place at The Yard, Ilkley, on Sunday.

Mr Stanfield, who previously walked the Camino de Santiago through Southern France and Spain, came up with the idea of the Somaliland walk a year before he set off.

He wanted to raise both money and awareness for Edna Adan’s maternity hospital in Somaliland – but also wanted to help Somaliland take a step towards gaining recognition as a breakaway country in its own right, no longer affiliated to Somalia.

He says the adventure, taking his life into his own hands, led him to the brink of both his physical and mental capabilities.

The journey took him through Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Djibouti and finally Somaliland.

He set off with an American companion, David Adams, and had a camel to carry supplies – but red tape on the border with Sudan meant he was forced to say goodbye to both.

He continued his journey alone, using a cart to haul his belongings with him, through baking desert heat and over mountains.

He completed the journey on January 4, walking the last kilometre side by side with Edna Adan Ismail, finishing in front of the hospital she had built 12 years previously.

Now he hopes to capture mass media attention with his book and documentary.

He said: “The expedition has an underlying theme of providing an inspirational distraction from our modern lives and ultimately show that despite our world’s current problems there is still so much hope to be had.

“Edna Adan’s hospital is an inspiring white light in Somaliland, and it is time we all stood up and recognised both the hospital, and this ever growing and stabilising country.”

The event at The Yard, off Brook Street, Ilkley, will feature live music, a raffle, auction, barbecue and cake sale, plus a specially brewed ale.

What do you think? We welcome letters on this or any other subject. E-mail newsdesk@gazetteandobserver.co.uk or write to The Editor, Gazette and Observer, 8 Wells Road, Ilkley LS29 9JD. Please include your full name, address and daytime telephone number.

'Off the charts': 133k Somalia famine child deaths

The shrouded body of 12-month-old Liin Muhumed Surow lays before burial at UNHCR's Ifo Extention camp outside Dadaab, Eastern Kenya, 100 km (60 miles) from the Somali border,Saturday Aug. 6, 2011. Liin died of malnutrition 25 days after reaching the camp, her father Mumumed said. The drought and famine in the horn of Africa has killed more than 29,000 children under the age of 5 in the last 90 days in southern Somalia alone, according to U.S. estimates. The U.N. says 640,000 Somali children are acutely malnourished, suggesting the death toll of small children will rise. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — A decision by extremist Islamic militants to ban delivery of food aid and a "normalization of crisis" that numbed international donors to unfolding disaster made south-central Somalia the most dangerous place in the world to be a child in 2011.

The first in-depth study of famine deaths in Somalia in 2011 was released Thursday, and it estimates that 133,000 children under age 5 died, with child death rates approaching 20 percent in some communities.

That's 133,000 under-5 child deaths out of an estimated 6.5 million people in south-central Somalia. That compares to 65,000 under-5 deaths that occurred in all industrial countries in the world combined during the same period, a population of 990 million, said Chris Hillbruner, a senior food security adviser at FEWS NET, a U.S.-sponsored famine warning agency.

"The scale of the child mortality is really off the charts," Hillbruner said in a telephone interview from Washington.


FEWS NET was one of two food security agencies that sponsored the study. The other was the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit - Somalia. The two agencies had warned the world as early as fall 2010 that failed rains in Somalia meant a hunger crisis was approaching.

"The world was too slow to respond to stark warnings of drought, exacerbated by conflict in Somalia, and people paid with their lives. These deaths could and should have been prevented," said Senait Gebregziabher, the Somalia director for the aid group Oxfam.

The new study put the total number of famine deaths at nearly 260,000. The Associated Press first reported the death toll on Monday, based on officials who had been briefed on the report.

In March 2011 some 13,000 people died from famine, the study found. In May and June 30,000 people died each month — at least half of them children. The U.N.'s formal declaration of famine didn't happen until July.

Why was there such a slow humanitarian response? One reason Hillbruner indicated was the feeling that Somalis are always suffering.

"I think that one of the key issues is that there was this normalization of crisis in south-central Somalia, and that I think the international community has become used to levels of malnutrition and food insecurity in southern Somalia that in other parts of the world would be considered unacceptable," Hillbruner said.

In Washington, U.S. State Department spokesman Patrick Ventrell said the hardest-hit famine regions were controlled by the extremist Islamist group al-Shabab.

"Al-Shabab's inhumane blockage of humanitarian assistance prior to and during the famine, including banning dozens of humanitarian organizations from providing lifesaving assistance, thwarted a more rapid international rapid humanitarian response that could have saved even more lives," Ventrell said. "And equally, al-Shabab's refusal to allow affected populations to leave al-Shabab-controlled areas prevented them from seeking assistance elsewhere."

The study was conducted by Francesco Checchi, an epidemiologist at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Courtland Robinson, a demographer at Johns Hopkins University. It drew on 200 mortality surveys by the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit , including 61 from the famine period, and data on food prices, wages and humanitarian access.

Philippe Lazzarini, the chief U.N. humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, said in a video news conference from Mogadishu Thursday that the death toll was shocking and sobering. He said the report confirms that aid groups should have done more before famine was declared — by which point 120,000 people had already died.

Lazzarini also noted that more than a dozen aid groups were banned from operating in south-central Somalia by al-Shabab, a hardline anti-West political decision that made saving lives "extraordinarily difficult." He said that in the months before famine was declared the crisis did not receive the amount of attention it should have, in part because of a lack of access because of al-Shabab.

"The famine was almost a silent drama of tragedy," he said. "It was not on the news. Media did not have access. Agencies did not have access. The extraordinary challenge of access explains why the early response, despite the early warning, did not really take place."

Ken Menkaus, a Somalia expert at Davidson College, said some elements of al-Shabab bear major responsibility for famine deaths, but that other factors contributed as well, including a corrupt Somali central government and general insecurity that made travel in Somalia dangerous.

Thousands of Somalis walked dozens or hundreds of miles to reach camps in Kenya, Ethiopia and Mogadishu, the Somali capital. Countless numbers of families lost children or elderly members along routes that became known as roads of death.

Somalia has made great progress since the famine ended in February 2012. Al-Shabab has been forced out of Mogadishu and now controls far less territory than it once did. The government appears more capable than the Transitional Federal Government in place during the famine, but challenges like child mortality and food security remain.

Gebregziabher said a global conference on Somalia which will be held in London next week should encourage investment in long-term development to ensure the country does not suffer famine again.

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Online:

Study of famine deaths:

http://bit.ly/131LaL6

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Associated Press reporter Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Human Rights Group sent letter to David Camaroon Advising the issue of Somalia ahead of London Meeting

To: Rt Hon David Cameron,
      Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Re: Human Rights at the Somalia Conference 2013
 

Excellencies,

On behalf of the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Project (EHAHRDP), I am writing to commend the inclusion of rebuilding the justice system among the focus areas of the upcoming Somalia Conference and to emphasise the importance of including human rights considerations throughout this process.

Respect for human rights is sential for the rebuilding of a stable state and the rule of law in Somalia.

EHAHRDP therefore welcomes recent public commitments on the part of the Government of Somalia othe promotion and protection of human rights in the country. In the new spirit of partnership between Somalia and the international community that the 7thMay Conference is expected to embody, we urge representatives of the international community, in particular the United Kingdom, to provide not only financial support but also technical expertise to enable the Somali Government to translate these commitments into practical improvements in the country in conformity with fundamental principles of rights. This should include support to the parliamentary committee on human rights, humanitarian affairs and gender to enable it to carry out its mandate effectively, as well as establishment of an independent national human rights commission, as provided in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Somalia.

Human rights defenders can make an important contribution to embedding a human rights culture in the country, but, as the UNDP Somalia Resident Representative stated recently, “to be a human rightdefender in Somalia is to live in constant threat of losing one’s life.” With eighteen media workers assassinated in 2012 and four journalists killed already since the beginning of this year, the dangers are indeed grave. Among those killed in an attack on a court in Mogadishu on 14thApril 2013 were two lawywho had successfully defended a woman prose

The protection of human rights defenders and the fostering of an enabling environment where they can eventually carry out their work without fear of attack should therefore be a priority for the upcoming conference. The announcement of the establishment of an independent panel to investigate the killings of media workers in the country was a positive step and the investigating team must be given all necessary support to conduct timely, thorough, impartial and genuinely independent inquiries. Ending impunity for such attacks is an essential element in improving the protection of journalists in Somalia.

In closing, EHAHRDP would like to urge the Government and its ternational partners to ensure that all their efforts to promote human rights in Somalia, including in prosecutions and penalties to hold perpetrators to account, are fully in line with internationally recognised human rights standards.

Yours sincerely,
Hassan Shire Sheikh