UPR Sexual Rights Database

National Report:
Para 20) ... In addition, efforts are being put into including vulnerable groups, such as women, minorities and youth in the decision-making process by giving them adequate representation in the different committees debating these issues ...

Para 26) The government has supported 26 legal internships since the last UPR report, including female interns. Providing them with exposure in the public sector, including key ministries, courts and the police, where they gather on-the-job work experience. These graduates are now working with the police, the Attorney General's office, the judiciary, legal aid centres, NGOs and the Parliament.

Para 39) The FGS is preparing to sign and ratify a number of international treaties such as: CEDAW ...

Para 62) The FGS is committed to work with and utilise the significant experience of the civil society organisations (CSO), which has been built during the civil war period. Somali CSO have been widely consulted by the government on a wide range of topics for which the government has been formulating policies. Several ministries and senior Government officials have held regular discussions with civil society actors including ... women associations.

Para 77) Regarding FGM prevention, the evaluation of the TOSTAN Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) intervention has been completed and lessons learned have been shared with all stakeholders. Also technical assistance was provided on reproductive health issues, while establishing reproductive health units with working groups and FGM task forces have been activated at regional level.

Para 85) Seats of the Federal Parliament to fill the women's minimum quota of 30% have been agreed upon. However, it has proven challenging to implement this agreement as it has no legal grounds to support the enforcement of the aforementioned quota. After the country's general election in September 2012, only 14% women were elected as MPs. The percentage of female ministers in the first cabinet after the election was 20% (2 out of a total of 10 ministers). Nevertheless, the government is optimistic that women participation in politics and governance will increase significantly in the coming years. The MWHR is campaigning throughout the regions of Somalia to encourage local representatives to include women in the federal states formation process

Para 86) The MWHR has been active and vocal to ensure affirmative action measures for women and girls (among other vulnerable groups). Many of these measures are adopted or are in the process of adoption by the government. The taken affirmative action measures include the following:
- National FGM task force operationalised, lead by the MoWHRD ...
- Technical committee to prepare CEDAW ratification set up.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 68) SLNHRC stated that the political participation of women was still minimal in "Somaliland", with only one woman in the parliament and only four women among cabinet ministers.

"National Report:
Para 16) Other legislation that must be enacted in 2016 include:
- Sexual Offences Bill;

Para 25) The courts in Somalia have delivered a number of significant judgments that have directly invoked both constitutional provisions and other national laws, to uphold different rights including economic and social rights. Among these are ... judgments relating to sexual violence against women and children have been passed on. The government has been vocal about the passing of these judgements to make citizens aware that impunity will not be tolerated.

Para 36) The MWHR has engaged in dialogue with AMISOM aimed at taking special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse of Somali women and girls. The ministry has proposed to AMISOM to set up a task force consisting of AMISOM and government officials that will work together in cases of alleged human rights violations to come up with appropriate and timely responses to such incidents. AMISOM and the MWHR have agreed to cooperate and share knowledge regarding civilian casualty tracking to better enable accountability and prevent impunity.

Para 86) The MWHR has been active and vocal to ensure affirmative action measures for women and girls (among other vulnerable groups). Many of these measures are adopted or are in the process of adoption by the government. The taken affirmative action measures include the following:
- Legislation drafting of an Action Plan on ending Sexual / Gender-based Violence;
- Attorney General office established special unit on Sexual violence;

UN Compilation:
Para 34) The Secretary-General stated that sexual violence continued to be reported in 2015 at about the same rate as in 2014. He noted that a sexual offences bill, aimed at criminalizing rape and other sexual offences, was pending parliamentary consideration.

Para 35) The Secretary-General and UN-Somalia stated that the Federal Government of Somalia had developed a national action plan to end sexual violence in conflict in May 2014. UN-Somalia noted, however, that the implementation of the action plan had been challenged by a political crisis and a government reshuffle, the limited capacity of the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to deliver and to engage the regions, and the very limited resources allocated to support the implementation.

Stakeholder Summary:
Para 30) Concerning recommendation 98.80 and 98.111, HRW noted that, in 2014, the Government had pledged to tackle the alarming levels of sexual violence by endorsing an action plan, the implementation of which had been slow and the protection of the most vulnerable communities non-existent."

National Report Annex:
PARTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

The Domestic Violence Act, 1998 (Act 116 of 1998 provides sanctions against domestic violence.

Key law reforms undertaken to address gender and sexual violence:
• Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, 2007;
• Protection from Harassment Act, 2011 (Act 17 of 2011);
• Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2013; and
• Prohibition and Prevention of Torture Act, 2013.
The conviction rate relating to sexual offences in 2014/15 stood at 69%; and in the first quarter 71.1% conviction rate.

National Report Annex:
PARTIAL IMPLEMENTATION

Despite expansion of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme, The National Committee on Confidential Enquiries into Maternal Deaths (NCCEMD) was established to monitor and recommend solutions to reduce maternal mortality. The Committee is responsible for investigating every maternal death, with respect to primary and final causes of death, and the care that was given. Recommendations for the care of pregnant mothers are then made in a report provided to the Minister of Health. Strategies for reducing maternal mortality are made on the basis of this report.