News Release Issued by the International Secretariat of Amnesty
International

AI INDEX: AFR 52/006/2003 17 July 2003

Somalia/Somaliland: Political leaders must recognize the legitimate role
of human rights defenders

Somali human rights defenders in all areas must be given a central role in
the difficult struggle ahead for sustained peace, democracy and human
rights, Amnesty International urged today, as the Somalia peace and
reconciliation conference in Kenya moves, within the next month, to
establish a transitional federal government by selecting a four-year
parliament which will elect the president. Somaliland is proceeding
separately to its own parliamentary elections after the recent
presidential elections.

"Civil society in Somalia, and particularly human rights defenders with a
track record of activism, must be supported and empowered, and given a
strong participatory role in the transitional period. Faction leaders must
be pressed to affirm and demonstrate commitment to human rights," Amnesty
International said.

Somali human rights defenders from different parts of Somalia and
Somaliland came together in February 2003 at an Amnesty International
workshop to strengthen their work and support each other. The workshop
report is now being released to publicise and support their activities,
and to press Somali political leaders to recognize their legitimate role
in promoting and protecting human rights.

Human rights defenders in Somalia and Somaliland are at the forefront of
the struggle for the respect of human rights. They voice the concerns of
Somalis and in particular victims of human rights abuses and their
families. In defending others, they themselves risk becoming targets.

Women's and minorities' rights are on the human rights agenda in all
areas. Human rights defenders in Somalia, a country wracked by years of
civil war, will be working particularly to develop the rule of law, build
institutions of good governance, and end human rights abuses by the
political factions and their undisciplined militias.

Somaliland, without international recognition so far, has achieved much in
the protection of personal security and human rights. Local human rights
defenders are urging more rapid progress towards effective and fair
administration of justice, including juvenile justice, and improved
safeguards against arbitrary detention.

This new report explains the work of Somali human rights defenders in the
context of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders. The human rights
background is described, from the repressive Siad Barre government since
1969 and the subsequent clan-based faction fighting since state collapse
in 1991, up to the present unsteady ceasefire. The report also sets out
the risks and dangers which human rights defenders have experienced (and
often overcome) in their diverse environments, and outlines the work
ahead.

The report describes the experiences shared by participants at the
workshop which was held in Hargeisa. They came from 23 well-established
Somali non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from Mogadishu, Baidoa,
Kismayu and Puntland as well as Hargeisa, who are working for freedom of
expression and association, justice and the rule of law, women's human
rights, minority rights, and development and humanitarian projects.

The unanimous adoption of a Declaration of Somali Human Rights Defenders
at the workshop illustrates their resolve to increase their struggle
against human rights abuses, and to work for the equal rights of all, with
full protection for vulnerable groups such as women and minorities. They
opposed impunity for faction leaders and former officials who had
committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the past, and declared
that "if they were allowed to hold government office they could commit
such crimes again."

They called on all Somali political authorities to publicly recognize the
legitimate role of human rights defenders.

They also appealed to the international community for rehabilitation and
development assistance, and for help to protect Somali human rights
defenders and assist them to build their capacity and influence.

The workshop was co-sponsored by Novib (Oxfam-Netherlands) through its
Somali civil society program and International Cooperation for Development
(ICD) which works with Somaliland NGOs.

The full report: Somalia and Somaliland: Supporting and strengthening the
work of Somali human rights defenders - a workshop report, is available at
: http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabgyuaaZf9Jbb0iygb/

All documents on Somalia and Somaliland:
http://amnesty-news.c.tclk.net/maabgyuaaZf9Kbb0iygb/