December 11, 2013 | Morning Headlines.

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President Mohamud: “Human Rights must be protected, adopted and supported by Somali society”

10 Dec- Source: Office of the President- 224 words

His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, today marked International Human Rights day.

The President said: “Somalia witnessed abuses of human rights through two decades of civil war and the first step to take when addressing any problem is to admit there is one. Today, I want to send the
message that human rights abuses have no place in the new Somalia.”

“I want to reiterate the government’s commitment to upholding human rights. We are working towards a position where there are no human rights violations in Somalia and we abide with best international practice in human rights. Practical steps have already been taken with numerous resolutions adopted by the Government at the United Nation Human Rights Council. New laws have also been introduced protecting human rights and the government’s political agenda has supported, and will continue to support, those laws.

“The Federal Government has adopted a Human Rights Road Map 2013 – 2015 which lays the foundation for improving the protection and promotion of human rights in Somalia. The Roadmap defines the government’s responsibilities and sets goals to be achieved in a short period of time in collaboration with civil society, NGOs and our international partners.”

“We know that the world is watching Somalia closely and we will take the criticism we receive in this area constructively. We will not hesitate to take the appropriate action, however tough that may prove.

We must have accountability and demonstrate that nobody is above the law.” “Human rights however cannot just be enforced by the government and enshrined in law they must be protected, adopted and supported by society. For, in the last resort, human rights depend not upon judges or government, but upon the Somali people.”

“Much has been achieved in a year but there is still a long way to go and there can be no complacency. It won’t happen overnight but we must as a society continue to work together to consign Human Rights
abuses to history.”

Key Headlines

DSRSG Serour marks International Human Rights Day in Garowe (UNSOM)
Somali Government marks International Human Right Day (Office of the Prime Minister)
Strange disease kills 5 in Badhadhe district Lower Jubba (Radio Bar-kulan)
Unknown gunmen kill Gov’t Soldier in Mogadishu (Radio Shabelle)
Puntland President urges presidential contenders to abide by law (Radio Garowe)
Somaliland Journalists Association observe 5 minute silence against the injustices done by the government to the free press (Somaliland informer)
Five police among eight people killed in Somalia border ambush (Standard Media/Africa Review)
Somalia defends rape sentence (AFP)

PRESS STATEMENT

DSRSG Serour marks International Human Rights Day in Garowe

10 Dec- Source: UNSOM- 280 words

Deputy Special Representative for the UN Secretary-General for Somalia (DSRSG) Fatiha Serour today officiated at celebrations in Garowe, capital of the Federal State of Puntland, to mark International Human Rights Day and the end of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence.
Events on the day included a football match between the internally displaced and host communities, theatrical productions and a public discussion on human rights in Puntland between government officials, NGOs, civil society and the media.

Speaking at the event, DSRSG Serour reminded participants of the origins of International Human Rights Day, which came into existence to bring attention to the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights as the common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations. She noted that although there has been progress over the years in developing conventions and instruments to protect human rights, there is much work to be done on the ground.

“We cannot sit back and wait, we must step forward and fight human rights abuses,” she said.

Meeting Asha Mohammud Ahmed, Deputy Minister for Women, Family and Social Affairs, and women’s groups, DSRSG Serour said she was impressed with the vibrant women’s movement in Puntland, but noted that major challenges remained, not least of which is the poor representation of women in the ongoing political process to select a parliament and president.

“We welcome the opportunity to work with UNSOM to advance women’s rights in Puntland, and recognize that to achieve this, we need to have one vision and one goal,” said Minister Mohammud.

While in Garowe, Ms Serour also met with Vice President Abdisamad Ali Shire, and reiterated UNSOM’s support for a free, fair and inclusive electoral process.

President Mohamud: “Human Rights must be protected, adopted and supported by Somali society”

10 Dec- Source: Office of the President- 224 words

His Excellency Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, the President of the Federal Republic of Somalia, today marked International Human Rights day.

Somali Government marks International Human Right Day

10 Dec- Source: Office of the Prime Minister- 263 words
Somali Federal Government today marked International Human Rights day with a morning of songs, drama and speeches held at the Somali Central Prison in Mogadishu. The event was attended by the Minister of Justice, Solicitor General, MPs, senior members of the Armed Forces, representatives from civil society and members of the public.
Through a combination of song and dance the importance of Human Rights, access to education and health, and protection of individual rights were expressed.
Government officials, senior police and civil society representatives followed the morning’s performances with a tour of the Central Prison. The delegation watched a football game between two teams of prisoners followed by a tour of the prison kitchen and the newly refurbished part of the prison.
The Minister of Justice, Abdullahi Abyan Nur, addressing the audience, said: “This is a big day for Human Rights in the world and here in Somalia. As the Quran teaches us we must respect all fellow human beings. Human Rights is based on Islam and we must implement and protect the rights of individuals.
“The government is committed to justice and ensuring the values of human rights are protected at all times. We are moving in the right direction and we must not divert from this course.”
Addressing the event, Asli Ismail, founder of Women’s Education and Voicing Entrepreneurship (WEAVE), said: “Providing education to both women and men is very important. We will support the Ministry of Justice to ensure that justice is served whilst also providing education, health and rehabilitation to those imprisoned which is part of protecting Human Rights.”

SOMALI MEDIA

Strange disease kills 5 in Badhadhe district, Lower Jubba

10 Dec- Source: Radio Bar-kulan- 124 words
Reports from Badhadhe district in Lower Jubba region in Somalia indicate that an unknown disease has claimed the lives of five people so far in the area. Farah Haybe, Badhadhe district chief told Bar-kulan that a fatal disease has affected many people in the area during this raining season. He said that some of the victims have experienced severe headaches, dizziness and later ooze blood from mouth and nostrils which at that point left many succumb to the disease. He added that at least five people have died so far in Badhadhe alone and others are believed to have died in the far remote areas. Haybe lamented the lack of medical facilities in the district.

Unknown gunmen kill Gov’t Soldier in Mogadishu

10 Dec- Source: Radio Shabelle- 108 words

Unidentified assailants have shot and killed a Somali soldier on Monday afternoon at Bakara Market in Mogadishu’s Howlwadaag district, witnesses said. Thewitness told Shabelle Media Station in Mogadishu by phone that the soldier was gunned down by young men armed with pistols at Bakara market as he was on his way to police station. In the aftermath of the killing, the culprits managed to escape immediately at shooting scene. Somali security forces arrived at the crime spot and launched massive swoop to hunt down the perpetrators but no arrests were made so far. Howlwadaag administration for Somali Federal Government did not make any comments on murder.

Puntland President urges presidential contenders to abide by law

10 Dec- Source: Radio Garowe- 113 words

The President of Somalia’s Puntland Government Abdirahman Mohamed Farole has returned to big welcome to Puntland capital of Garowe on Tuesday, after a four-day trip to Somali regional state of Ethiopia.Addressing hundreds of well-wishers at Garowe Square, President Farole thanked the crowds for welcoming him to Garowe and said the public’s response to his arrival reveals the magnitude of the support he has in Puntland communities.“We are expected to abide by law; we have a constitution that highlights the code of conducts and that issue is constitutional, therefore we should respect the rule of law. I wish to declare that I am committed to act with that code of conduct but some people are in breach of [Puntland] constitution,” said President Farole indicating that those people are trying to foment violence.

Somaliland Journalists Association observe 5 minute silence against the injustices done by the government to the free press

10 Dec- Source: Somaliland informer- 193 words
Somaliland journalist Association have on Tuesday showed their grievances against the current administration of suppressing the free press and since it is the 10th December which coincides with World human rights day and put forward the harassment that the government of president Silanyo committed against the press corps in Somaliland ever since it assumed the leadership of the country on 2010. The SJL said that the government arrested eight journalists who were executing on their responsibility and expressed their grievances against the government by observing five minute silences. The journalists who participated in the event said that they are very sorry with what is happening to Somaliland journalists. Once the current president was campaigning for the presidential race, he pledged that he will fully respect the free press and that his administration will give the right for journalists to conduct their work. It is obvious that the incumbent president has done everything in his power to gag the free press in Somaliland. Today it is clear that all journalists be it press or electronic spoke with loud and clear voice saying that they cannot accept the injustices done to the media at large.

REGIONAL MEDIA

Five police among eight people killed in Somalia border ambush

10 Dec- Source: Standard Media/Africa Review/Daily Nation- 261 words

At least eight people, five of them police officers were Tuesday killed in an ambush by unknown assailants along Dadaab-Liboi road near the Kenya-Somalia border. Deputy Inspector General of Administration Police Samuel Arachi said two officers were still missing following the attack and efforts to trace them were ongoing. The civilians who died alongside the police officers had hiked a lift in the police vehicle. “There is a likelihood these are members of al Shabaab but our officers will know more,” said a senior officer in the area who asked not to be named.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

Somalia defends rape sentence

10 Dec- Source: iol.co./AFP- 326 words
Somalia’s internationally-backed government on Tuesday sprung to the defence of the judiciary following the sentencing of a woman who said she was raped along with the two journalists who broadcast her story. Spokesman Ridwaan Haji said war-torn Somalia’s courts were in their “infancy” and needed to time to improve.

SOCIAL MEDIA

CULTURE / OPINION / EDITORIAL / ANALYSIS / BLOGS/ DISCUSSION BOARDS

“Unfortunately, the government’s handling of the case reinforced its own challenges with the media and the law. The conclusion has not helped observers understand whether key details of the case were true or not. The process in which the defendants were prosecuted also raises legal questions.”

Sentencing in New Rape-Journalist Case Raises Legal, Political Questions in Somalia

10 Dec- Source: Somalia Newsroom-863 Words

On 9 December 2013, the Banadir regional court in Mogadishu sentenced a female journalist to house arrest as part of a six month suspended sentence on charges of “defamation and lying” after she claimed in an interview that she was raped by two government radio journalists. The Radio Shabelle journalist who interviewed her–Mohamed Bashir Hashi–was found guilty on the same charges and paid a fine to avoid a six month prison sentence. The court found Mohamed’s boss Abdimalik Yusuf Mohamud guilty of “offending Somali institutions and defaming Somali government officials,” and he also reportedly paid a fine rather than serve a 12 month stint in prison. The alleged perpetrators were only briefly detained and had filed a defamation suit against the defendants. They evaded a sincere investigation into any potential wrongdoings.