STORY: Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights, Ivan

imonovi
, praises Somalias efforts to advance Human
Rights and calls for increased international support
DURATION: 04:52
SOURCE: UNSOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 2015/11/17, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST
1. Wide shot,
UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr. Ivan
Simonovic and the Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Cassandra Nelson
take their seats
2. Wide shot, Journalists in attendance
3. Med shot, Journalists in attendance
4. SOUNDBITE (English) UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr.
Ivan
imonovi
, Ahead of the elections and constitution review in 2016, it is

important to strengthen democratic space with free and strong civil society,
gender equality and fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and
association.
5. Med shot, Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at the
United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Cassandra Nelson
6. Wide shot, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr. Ivan
Simonovic and the Director of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs at
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) Cassandra Nelson
7. SOUNDBITE (English) UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr.
Ivan
imonovi
, Violations of international human rights and humanitarian

law, affect the reputation and credibility of security forces. Such violations

also alienate the population they are expected to protect, and therefore
negatively affect the ultimate success in the fight against terrorism.
8. Med shot, Journalists in attendance
9. Close up, Journalists in attendance
10. SOUNDBITE (English) UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr.
Ivan
imonovi
, It is also important to ensure at least 30 percent of women

representation in the parliament. This is a critical step to ensure a more

representative parliament and a contribution to peace, security and
reconciliation.
11. Wide shot, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr. Ivan
Simonovic and the Director of Strategic Communication and Public Affairs at
the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somali (UNSOM) Cassandra Nelson
12. SOUNDBITE (English) UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights Mr.
Ivan
imonovi
,
I call on the Federal Government to step up its efforts to
protect human rights and all security forces operating in Somalia, including
the Somali National Army, AMISOM and other foreign forces, to take
effective measures to prevent and address violations of international human
rights and humanitarian law.
13. Wide shot, Journalists standing to leave at the end of the briefing.

STORY
MOGADISHU, 17 November 2015 - The United Nations Assistant Secretary-General
for Human Rights, Ivan imonovi
, completed his five-day visit to Somalia with a call
to international partners to increase their support to the Federal Government in its
efforts to advance human rights in the country.
Mr. imonovihighlighted that without increased support from the countrys
international partners, the gains made in promoting and protecting human rights
would be at risk.
Ahead of the elections and constitution review in 2016, it is important to
strengthen democratic space with free and strong civil society, gender equality and

fundamental rights, such as freedom of expression and association, declared Mr.

imonoviat a press conference held in Mogadishu on Tuesday, 17 November 2015.
The Assistant Secretary-General commended the Federal Government of Somalia for
the meaningful progress made in improving security, implementation of the Human
Rights Road Map, reforming the justice and security sectors, state building and the
on-going consultative forums on the electoral process. Mr. imonovicondemned in
the strongest terms the numerous abuses committed by Al- Shabaab in Somalia and
neighbouring countries.
However, he also noted that Somalia still faces a series of human rights challenges,
citing allegations of Human Rights violations committed by national and
international security forces during military operations.
Violations of international human rights and humanitarian law affect the
reputation and credibility of security forces. Such violations also alienate the
population they are expected to protect, and therefore negatively affect the ultimate
success in the fight against terrorism, he stressed.
The Assistant Secretary-General emphasized that UN entities are bound by the
Human Rights Due Diligence Policy (HRDDP), which provides that support to
national, and international security forces must be based on compliance with
international humanitarian, human rights and refugee law.
The UN diplomat called for the establishment of democratic and representative
institutional frameworks that are inclusive of all communities, clans and both
women and men as well as the youth
It is also important to ensure at least 30 percent of women representation in the
Parliament. This is a critical step to ensure a more representative Parliament and a
contribution to peace, security and reconciliation, he added.

ENDS.