During 2006-2007, OHCHR was involved in the country through a human rights adviser to the United Nations Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS) and through the deployment of a human rights adviser to the UN Country Team. The advisers monitored and reported on human rights-related developments and advised OHCHR, UNPOS and the Resident Coordinator’s Office on human rights approaches in the political process and in peace-building, humanitarian and reconstruction efforts. OHCHR also provided substantive support to the Independent Expert appointed by the Secretary-General on the situation of human rights in Somalia.
During the last biennium, OHCHR urged the numerous parties in Somalia to meet their human rights obligations and brought to their attention human rights issues such as improved respect for the human rights of women, freedom of expression and opinion, and improved interactions with human rights defenders and civil society.
During 2008-2009, OHCHR will continue to provide advice to UNPOS on the political and human rights situation in the country in order to facilitate the human rights action taken by both offices, and to strengthen the capacity of the UN Country Team to integrate human rights into their programmes. In addition, the human rights functions of the advisers will be rationalized under a single, strengthened human rights unit at UNPOS.