UN Human Rights Council discusses Somalia and Freedom of Assembly and Association
The UN Human Rights Council held its 15th ordinary session from 15th September to 2nd October in Geneva, Switzerland. It considered various reports and held a general debate on human rights situations in various areas. During the interactive dialogue, Ethiopia updated the Council on the positive measures it had recently undertaken, including the successful elections in May and the launching of the Growth and Transformation Plan. The delegation also encouraged the High Commissioner’s Office to continue its work in the provision of technical assistance in Ethiopia.
During the session, the Council held a debate on Somalia and considered the report of Dr Shamsul Bari, the Independent Expert on the Human Rights Situation in Somalia. The Ethiopia delegation supported the decision of the Council to give attention to the human rights and humanitarian challenges in Somalia and hold a standalone debate on Somalia. Among those attending were Mr. Abdirahman Haji Aden Ibbi, the Deputy Prime Minster of Somalia; Ms Navi Pillay, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights; Mr. Augustine Mahiga, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative; and Ambassador Aboubacar Diarra, the AMISOM mission head. Several heads of UN programmes testified, and several delegations condemned the terrorist attacks committed by Al-Shabaab and Hizbul Islam. Delegations from Ethiopia, Uganda, the UK, Italy, the African Group and the European Union all agreed on the need for solidarity and unity of purpose within the TFG. This was reflected in the resolution adopted by the Council renewing the mandate of the Independent Expert and urging the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to focus on the provision of technical assistance and support to Somalia.
Ethiopia noted the recent visit by Ms. Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, to Somalia and the region, and her call for accountability with particular respect to the documentation of humanitarian law violations. Ethiopia certainly supports the call for building up AMISOM’s capacity to protect civilians within its existing mandate, but regrets that some, including NGOs, have recently aimed a barrage of unsubstantiated allegations against AMISOM. It is incumbent upon the Human Rights Office to ensure transparency and due process in its work and to focus on the provision of technical assistance. The Independent Expert and the Human Rights Council should be the focal points of inter-governmental deliberation on human rights in Somalia.
The Council also discussed and adopted a resolution establishing the mandate of a Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Assembly and Association. The Ethiopian Federal Constitution incorporates principles and norms for freedom of assembly and association, and Ethiopia naturally supports continued attention on these rights by regional human rights organizations and UN bodies like the International Labour Organization. At the same time, several delegations were concerned that this new mandate might duplicate efforts of the ILO’s supervisory mechanisms including the Committee on the Application of International Standards. The African Group, Russia, China, Cuba and a number of other delegations called for a mandate which would first create a broader consensus within the Council and then move on to consideration of the specific implementation of measures at the domestic level. As various members disassociated themselves from some provisions, further reflection on the implementation of the mandate and an understanding of the difference in national practices in the implementation of the relevant norms, seems to be called for.