Wednesday, June 12, 2013
"The proposed human rights commission could play a valuable role in helping to tackle Somalia's ongoing human rights crisis," said Leslie Lefkow, deputy director of HRW's Africa division. "But a weak law will cripple the commission from the start and parliament should make sure that does not happen."
The Ministry of Justice and Religious Affairs presented a draft law to parliament on May 30th establishing the commission. The draft will undergo a second reading in parliament before it is presented to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights, Women and Humanitarian Affairs, which can recommend amendments.
HRW said the law should guarantee a "robust, independent body with a broad mandate and enforcement powers".
"A weak law rapidly rushed through parliament would be a profound disservice to Somalia's many victims of abuse," Lefkow said.