UN expert urges Somalia to finalize human rights roadmap

The United Nations Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Shamsul Bari, urged on Thursday the Somali Federal Government to finalize and implement the human rights roadmap endorsed by the cabinet in August. "The human rights Roadmap defines the government's responsibilities and sets goals to be achieved in a short period of time," Bari said. "Finalizing it would demonstrate a sincere commitment by the government to rebuild the foundation and structures of human rights in Somalia," he added. Bari's call comes after the Somali Parliament last week confirmed Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed, who was nominated by President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, as the new Prime Minister. "I call on the new head of government and the international community to seize the opportunity to build a new Somalia where, among other things, the rule of law and the respect of human rights for all Somalis would be the norm, " the expert said. The roadmap, an initiative proposed by Bari to the Somali authorities, is based on key human rights themes, each containing its own action plan to be implemented by ministries, and sets out a post-transition strategy running until 2015. "The Human Rights Roadmap offers a unique opportunity for the advancement of human rights in Somalia. However, unless there is wide and active involvement by all concerned, it will be difficult to implement it,"