Apr 19, 2005

Somaliland: UN Release New Human Rights Report


According to Independent Expert Ghanim Alnajjar the situation in Somaliland continued to be relatively secure throughout 2004
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In a report (E/CN.4/2005/117) the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Ghanim Alnajjar notes that in 2004 the Somalis agreed to establish the Transitional Federal Parliament and Transitional Federal Government, signalling a cautious optimism for peace and reconciliation for Somalia. The Independent Expert calls on the international community to consolidate its support to the Transitional Federal Government in this crucial stage, to extend assistance to civil society, and to give integrated support to the United Nations country team for Somalia. The autonomous region of "Somaliland" continued to be relatively secure throughout 2004. Of concern were a slight increase in police brutality, an alarming trend in juvenile suicides and the forced return of refugees to "Somaliland". There were also reports of impunity, threats to human rights defenders and journalists as well as to freedom of association and opinion. The conflict in the contested border regions of Sool and Sanaag, continued between "Somaliland" and "Puntland", causing serious human rights violations, and resulting in prisoners of war on both sides. A highlight of the Independent Expert's mission to "Somaliland" was the negotiated release of Zamzam Ahmed Dualeh of "Puntland", a 17-year-old girl who had been sentenced to five years' incarceration for espionage and for lying about her clan identity. In "Puntland", the human rights issues mostly concerned economic and social rights, the report states.

Source: notitias