Peace talks must encompass human rights, says expert

A UN-appointed independent expert on human rights for Somalia has said the more attention given to human rights at the Somali peace talks in Kenya, the greater the scope for peace. Dr Ghanim Alnajjar arrived in the region this week on an 11-day mission. It is his third visit since his appointment by UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001, according to a press statement from the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office for Somalia. "Right now a lot depends on the peace process," Alnajjar said the statement. "The more human rights are considered at the talks, the higher the chance of peace. It is an opportunity for Somalis to show their commitment to human rights." He went on to note, however, that the current state of human rights in the country was "not promising". "Northwest Somalia [Somaliland] and northeast Somalia [Puntland] had shown improvement last year, but [the issue of] human rights in Somalia is complicated as some regions improve one year while others deteriorate," he said. During his visit, Alnajjar is due to meet diplomats, local authorities, civil society representatives and international organisations in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and in various regions of Somalia. He will look into a variety of human rights issues "including the state of the judicial system, law enforcement and prison conditions, the challenges of demobilisation and child soldiers, economic and social rights, the status of women, human rights education, difficulties faced by tens of thousands of internally displaced persons, and related matters", the statement said.