Friday, December 11, 2009
More than 180 members of the Somali civil society, consisting of Somali civic actors, Diaspora groups and business leaders, gathered in Mombasa between the 7th and 11th of December, 2009, and adopted the following Principles of Peace.
I. Terror shall never be used as political means
Terrorizing civilians shall never be justified as a political vehicle to advance a political agenda at the cost of the Somali people. Radicalization is neither part of the Somali culture and tradition nor their way of life.
II. Security is a right, not a privilege
No one should be killed in the name of providing security. A citizen’s life, liberty and freedom of expression shall not be infringed upon.
III. Islamic Sharia shall be a source of laws
The Islamic law has been a towering moral authority among the Somali public, and thus shall be a source of the law of the country, complimented by international legal obligations, including but not limited to, International Human Rights Law and the Geneva Convention.
IV. Strengthening existing institutions
In order to end the state of the permanent transition in Somalia, existing institutions achieved through local and regional efforts should be recognized, preserved and built upon.
V. A paramount need for leadership
The Somali people shall nurture a leadership based on a vision that can inspire change, in order to end the state of a permanent transition.
VI. A need for a government that embodies national vision
The Somali government shall be inclusive, democratic, competent, accountable and above all, reflective of a national vision, that enables building the capacity of transitional institutions that are vital for the healthy recovery process.
VII. Unhindered access to the delivery of humanitarian efforts
The “slow genocide” of the Somali people in the country and outside is intolerable: to protect the sanctity of life, and to assist the vulnerable, all parties should provide unhindered access to the delivery of humanitarian efforts by both local and international organizations.
VIII. Ending the culture of misappropriating public funds
Funds intended for the transitional institutions or other groups should never be misappropriated, mismanaged or misused for unintended purposes.
IX. International community should commit to systems, not individuals
The international community should not anoint individuals over institutions. It should support priorities identified by the Somali people. Relocation of “exiled” internationally-supported Somali programs back to Somalia should be addressed within the framework of an active international policy change towards Somalia.
X. Accountability for human rights abusers
Those responsible for heinous crimes shall be held accountable for their actions. The international community shall assist the Somali people in ending the culture of impunity.
XI. The sanctity of the Somali culture
The Somali culture, including poetry, music, literature and language is an essential part of our national identity. Therefore, it shall be protected, and shall never be infringed upon.
Somali Civil Society Conference