A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was today signed between the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the UN Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) and the Somali government to support enhancement of the situation of human rights in Somalia.

According to a statement from the UNPOS, this MOU has been conceived in a collaborative spirit and developed at the request of the TFG to formalize and strengthen cooperation in seven thematic key areas identified by Somalia

Among the seven key areas are; Signature, ratification and implementation of international human rights treaties, protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups, including women, children, internally displaced persons and journalist and facilitation of effective cooperation with Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council as well as strengthening the rule of law and the administration of justice.

Other issues includes building institutional capacity to promote and protect human rights, raising about human rights through media and advancing economic and social rights in the country.

“The technical assistance will be delivered in a manner that ensures national ownership, participation, transparency and the inclusion of relevant stakeholders, especially in regard to the priority accorded to each thematic area”, reads the statement in part.

It also says an annual Action Plan will be developed jointly by the parties to prioritize and defend specific activities in the agreed thematic areas.

The MoU was signed by OHCHR Director of the Field Operations and Technical Cooperation, Anders Kompass, UN Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Peter de Clerq and Prime Minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali of the transitional government of Somalia.

The MoU will be implemented at country level by the Human Rights Unit of the UN Political Office for Somalia.