Attachments
Human Rights Council
Fifty-fourth session
11 September–6 October 2023
Agenda item 10
Technical assistance and capacity-building
Summary
The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 51/38 and covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
During the reporting period, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Isha Dyfan, was unable to visit the country owing to the lack of formal acceptance of a visit by the Government of Somalia. As such, the information presented in the report is based on extensive desk research and regional consultations with various stakeholders, a review of relevant reports and data, and information submitted by various actors following a call for contributions.
I. Introduction
1 . The present report is submitted pursuant to Human Rights Council resolution 51/38 and covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.
2 . The report is based on information received following a call for contributions on the human rights situation in Somalia issued in April 2023, 1 and meetings with various interlocutors, including the Permanent Representative of Somalia to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, two ministers of two federal member states and representatives of the United Nations and its funds, agencies and programmes, the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), the African Union Commission, the diplomatic community, civil society, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and marginalized and minority communities. Information from official reports, open sources and other relevant materials is also drawn upon.
3 . In the present report, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Isha Dyfan, highlights recent political and security developments, the humanitarian situation and the impact of climate change on human rights, and assesses progress made by the Government against the seven key benchmarks set out in her previous reports to the Human Rights Council.2 She reiterates the recommendations contained in previous reports, as well as some revisions based on recent developments.
4 . In accordance with established procedure, the report was shared with the Government of Somalia.
5 . The Independent Expert welcomes the constructive engagement of the Government of Somalia with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and human rights mechanisms, in particular the Human Rights Council at its fiftyfirst session and the Committee against Torture at its seventy-fifth session. Somalia was scheduled to be reviewed by the Human Rights Committee at its 138th session, in July 2023; however, by means of a note verbale dated 25 June 2023, Somalia requested the postponement of its review, citing the prevailing post-conflict and counter-terrorism situation. Engagement with the Independent Expert remained limited.