Attachments
Rationale and Aim of the Centrality of Protection Strategy
Somalia has made significant political progress in recent years with conclusion of its state formation process, as well as elections for Parliament and President in 2016 and 2017 respectively, and peaceful transition of power. However, a number of challenges remain, including fragile relations between the Federal Government (FGS) and the Federal Member States (FMS), weak rule of law institutions, continued insecurity and a need for further progress in the formation of Somali security institutions, including the Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and expansion of governance. Challenges which need to be addressed in a context of widespread poverty and underdevelopment, as well as continued multi-layered conflict coupled with recurrent drought.
As a result, serious protection concerns persist in Somalia, putting civilians’ lives at risk, forcing many to flee, exposing them to multiple risks while displaced, and impeding durable solutions. Abuses against civilians, including wide spread sexual and gender-based violence (GBV), recruitment and use of children, indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure, explosive hazards and forced displacement, remain a pervasive feature of the conflict in Somalia. Compounding the conflict and its inherent risks to civilians, the extended drought also has triggered massive displacement, and further exposed civilians to serious protection risks. Women, children, youth and marginalized communities, especially the most vulnerable (older people, persons with disabilities, etc.) among them are at risk and face specific protection concerns. The protection crisis is also characterized by entrenched but fluid societal divisions, aggravated by regular competition for resources between social groups. (Reference Annex 2 – Protection Analysis for further information.)
Three interlinked priority areas where protection is lacking in different parts of Somalia and poses a significant challenge to the entire humanitarian response were identified by the Protection Cluster’s analysis in consultation with the Humanitarian Country Team (HCT) and Inter-Cluster Coordination Group (ICCG). These are:
1). Identifying and addressing differential risks of exclusion and discrimination, including those based on societal discrimination, power structures, vulnerability, age, and gender (and the need for inclusion of all relevant responders in order to prevent exclusion).
2). Addressing critical protection concerns with increasing displacement towards IDP sites and collective-centers, including heightened protection risks/threats that have emerged in the failure to end displacement through appropriate solutions (local integration, return, and settlement elsewhere).
3). Enhancing the protection of communities in conflict zones, who are affected by indiscriminate and disproportionate targeting of civilians and civilian assets vital for survival, through engagement of these communities in their self-protection, enhanced delivery of assistance, and robust engagement with parties to the conflict.