• Human Rights in Somalia
    Fighting involving Somalia’s Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces, allied militias and African Union forces against the Islamist al-Shabaab insurgents continues to affect much of southern Somalia. All sides have been responsible for laws of war violations, particularly indiscriminate shelling. Civilians have suffered the brunt of the fighting. Al-Shabaab has been responsible for summary executions, child recruitment and forced marriage in areas under their control. Government and allied militias have committed arbitrary arrest, summary executions and other grave human rights abuses against perceived al-Shabaab supporters. There have already been six journalists killed this year in government-controlled areas but the TFG has failed to investigate the killings.
  • A photo of Abdirahman Yasin Ali from Abdirahman Yasin Ali's facebook page.
    Somalia: Investigate Killings of Journalists
    The new president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, should promptly order an investigation into the killings of four journalists over a 24-hour period on September 20-21, 2012. The new government should adopt measures to provide better protections for journalists, 13 of whom have been killed this year.
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      Apr 19 2010 - 09:12

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Somalia

  • Keep Soldiers Out of Schools and Universities
    Nov 20, 2012
    The use of schools and other education institutions for military purposes by armed forces and non-state armed groups during wartime endangers students and their education around the world, said the Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack in a study released today.
  • Learning Under the Gun
    Nov 20, 2012
    Like many of the Somali youth I interviewed in Kenya, “Xarid M.” had braved the streets of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, for as long as he could to go to school. But that all changed the day the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab brought the war to his classroom.Like many of the Somali youth I interviewed in Kenya, “Xarid M.” had braved the streets of Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, for as long as he could to go to school. But that all changed the day the Islamist insurgent group al-Shabaab brought the war to his classroom.
  • UN Human Rights Council: Interactive Dialogue With the Independent Expert on Somalia
    Sep 25, 2012
    The reports on Somalia presented to this session by the Independent Expert and the Secretary-General highlight the urgent need for a significant reinforcement of the presence of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and its activities, notably its monitoring work, on Somalia.
  • Somalia: Investigate Killings of Journalists
    Sep 24, 2012
    The new president of Somalia, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, should promptly order an investigation into the killings of four journalists over a 24-hour period on September 20-21, 2012. The new government should adopt measures to provide better protections for journalists, 13 of whom have been killed this year.
  • Somaliland: Stop Deporting Ethiopian Refugees
    Sep 4, 2012

    The Somaliland authorities should immediately stop deporting Ethiopian refugees and asylum seekers to Ethiopia. On August 31, 2012, dozens of Ethiopians, mostly women and children, were forcibly returned to Ethiopia in violation of international legal prohibitions against sending people to places where they might face persecution or threats to their lives.

  • Somalia/Kenya: Protect Civilians in Kismayo
    Aug 23, 2012
    The Kenyan government should promptly investigate civilian casualties during fighting between a Kenyan naval ship and al-Shabaab forces in the Somali port town of Kismayo on August 11, 2012. Three civilians − boys aged 11 and 15, and a pregnant woman − are known to have died and two others were wounded, apparently from shells fired by the Kenyan vessel. The Kenyan military confirmed that a naval vessel fired four shells on August 11.
  • Can U.N. help itself from underwriting human rights abuses?
    Jul 24, 2012

    To the outside world, the question might sound puzzling: How can the United Nations stop itself from supporting human rights abusers? Sadly, the issue is by no means theoretical.  

  • Ethiopia: ‘Special Police’ Execute 10
    May 27, 2012
    An Ethiopian government-backed paramilitary force summarily executed 10 men during a March 2012 operation in Ethiopia’s eastern Somali region. Detailed information on the killings and other abuses by the force known as the “Liyu police” only came to light after a Human Rights Watch fact-finding mission to neighboring Somaliland in April.
  • Kenya: Investigate Security Force Abuses Against Ethnic Somalis
    May 4, 2012
    The Kenyan security forces have committed widespread human rights abuses against ethnic Somalis with total impunity. Between November 2011 and March 2012, Kenyan police and soldiers arbitrarily arrested and mistreated Kenyan citizens and Somali refugees in North Eastern province in response to attacks by militants suspected of links to Somalia’s Islamist armed movement al-Shabaab.
  • Kenya: Somalia Unsafe for Refugees to Return
    Mar 30, 2012
    Kenyan authorities should not return refugees to Somalia because of ongoing fighting and abuses against civilians in areas controlled by Kenyan forces and allied militias. Instead of claiming that “newly liberated areas” are safe for refugee return, Kenyan authorities should reopen the screening center at Liboi and resume registration of new refugees to ensure they receive assistance.
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