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Somalia

Somalia: Protection fact sheet - Dec 2006

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PROTECTION ISSUES IN SOMALIA

Protection encompasses all activities aimed at securing full respect for the rights of individuals in accordance with the letter and the spirit of the relevant bodies of human rights, humanitarian and refugee law. Protection activities aim to create an environment in which human dignity is respected, specific patterns of abuse are prevented or their immediate effects alleviated, and dignified conditions of life are restored through reparation, restitution and rehabilitation *

With continued violence and instability in many parts of Somalia, weak governance structures and limited access to vulnerable populations in some parts of the country, Somalia has been characterized by a wide range of systematic human rights violations. These include ongoing displacement, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions, violations of the rights of women and children and infringements on the rights of other vulnerable groups, such as marginalised clans.

In the first six months of 2006, over 100,000 people have been displaced, citing violent conflict and discrimination as their main reasons for fleeing. Targeted forced relocation/displacement continues to be reported in several locations - particularly of those people with certain religious leanings or clan affiliations - as do evictions of displaced and other vulnerable groups from public buildings. Human smuggling has also continued, with people being subject to extreme abuses by smugglers as they risk death to cross the Gulf of Aden. Between January and March, and October 2006 (period of the open seas), over 16,500 people have attempted the journey from the north of Somalia.

Women and girls, especially within IDP and minority communities, continue to suffer sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV). In Somaliland, a third of SGBV cases reported in IDP settlements involve victims under the age of sixteen years. In addition, there has been a notable increase in the use of children as soldiers by all parties to conflict. The number of civilian kidnappings has also grown, with women and girls most likely to be targeted for trafficking, while others, such as prominent businessmen, are kidnapped for ransom.

Humanitarian supplies are frequently diverted from those in need. While minority groups, according to some estimates, constitute up to one-third of the Somali population, their lack of clan protection leaves them vulnerable to a range of human rights abuses and harassment; often, they find themselves facing discrimination when trying to access limited social services.

In June 2006, the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) took control of Mogadishu from the Alliance for the Restoration of Peace and Counter- Terrorism. Since then, the ICU has expanded its influence throughout parts of South/Central Somalia. While the security situation has stabilized in many ICU-controlled areas, with the removal of checkpoints and the surrender of many warlords increasing Somalis' freedom of movement and personal safety, other protection/human rights concerns have arisen. These concerns relate especially to freedom of the press, freedom of religion, women's rights and restrictions on civil society.

* These definitions of protection and protection activity were adopted by some 50 humanitarian and human rights organizations who participated in a Protection Workshop process initiated by the ICRC (starting in 1996). The workshop examined the legal, practical and policy issues relevant to protection work and achieved a widely acceptable consensus regarding a definition of protection, which has been adopted by Somalia's Inter Agency Standing Committee.

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