Organisation Urges TFG to Accept UN Recommendations On Free Express

Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu)

3 May 2011

Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which is the human rights monitoring mechanism of the United Nations, is today, 3 May, reviewing Somalia.

This is the first ever review for Somalia in addition to other existing mechanisms for monitoring of the compliance of human rights such as the periodic review of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights.

While welcoming Somalia to be subjected for a review by UN Human Rights Council under the UPR this year, NUSOJ wishes to express grave concerns over the serious human rights violations which had happened earlier and ongoing in particular in southern and central Somalia such as the violations of freedom of expression, the use of judicial system for suppressing the critical voices, threats against human rights defenders and other forms of serious violation of human rights.

‘Taking this vital opportunity, we urge the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia whose high-level delegation is currently in Geneva to pay more attention to this review in order to ensure full compliance of all international covenants and conventions in relation to human rights of which Somalia is a State party to and have ratified,’ said Omar Faruk Osman, NUSOJ Secretary General.

NUSOJ provided a submission about widespread and routine violations of the right to freedom of expression, particularly freedom of the press, to the UN Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

The submission, which underlines suppression and restrictions on freedom of expression, focused on killings of journalists, violence, arrests and threats against media professionals, restrictions on free expression using the pretext of defamation, terrorism or national security, the lack of a justice system or independent courts of justice and crimes committed against journalists – a pervasive culture of impunity.

‘It is our hope that the TFG will consider the concerns of the civil society and the international community, and will accept the recommendations from the UN Human Rights Council in order to improve freedom of expression situation and the overall state of human rights in the country,’ added Omar.

Somalia will be assessed to the extent it respects its human rights obligations contained in the Charter of the United Nations (UN), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Human Rights instruments to which Somalia is party (human rights treaties ratified by Somalia), voluntary pledges and commitments made by Somalia and applicable international humanitarian laws.

In a related story, Reporters Without Borders accused Al shabaab of being one of the topmost violators the rights of journalists.

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