Somalia: Human Rights

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the government of Ethiopia and the Transitional Federal Government in Somalia on their obligations to ensure that their armed forces comply with international humanitarian law; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn
We regularly raise the issue of compliance with international humanitarian law with both the Ethiopian Government and the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, including at the highest level.

While Ethiopia’s troops remain in Somalia, we urge them to use only appropriate force, adhere to international humanitarian law, respect human rights and to ensure that their forces should leave the country as soon as is practical without creating a security vacuum.

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government is taking to monitor the human rights situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn
In March 2008 we fully supported the UN Human Rights Council in renewing the mandate of their international expert for Somalia.

Through the UN Security Council (UNSC), we have also asked the UN to produce a comprehensive plan, and to build capacity to monitor and report on the human rights situation in Somalia.

To be effective and have a sustainable impact, measures to combat human rights abuses should be part of a broader approach to peace-building. Effective state-building is the only way to address human rights in the long-term. The UK is in the forefront of international efforts to re-build the Somali state through shaping UNSC policy and through our membership of the Contact Group for Somalia. We continually press for greater focus on human rights capacity in Somalia.