Lack of rule of law an impediment to human rights protection in Somalia- EU report

Lack of rule of law in Somalia remains the biggest obstacle to protection of basic human rights, a report by the European Union has noted adding gender based violence in the Horn of Africa country remained widespread.

The EU Annual Report on Human Rights and Democracy 2017 observes Federal and State authorities had limited control of the country coupled with limited policing functions, access to justice and correctional facilities. As a result, the report states, leaders prioritise political power over protection of human rights.

“Regional leaders continued to show more interest in ensuring their own political power than protecting the rights of the people or groups in their constituencies,” the report released Monday says.

Sexual and gender based violence remain rampant in Somalia, the report says adding despite ratification of Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2015, recruitment and use of children in armed conflict by state and non- state actors continued.

The proliferation of regional security forces/militias continues to constitute a concern due to inadequate civilian control and apparent lack of compliance with international humanitarian law, the report adds.

Despite efforts to bolster human rights protection through capacity injection and funding, the EU notes, death penalty in Somalia remains difficult to advocate against ‘since there is near universal support in the country for capital punishment.