UN ENVOY ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT STARTS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOMALIA

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From: UNNews <UNNews@un.org>
Date: 3 Apr 2013 14:00:00 -0400
Subject: UN ENVOY ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT STARTS FIRST OFFICIAL
VISIT TO SOMALIA
To: news11@ny-mail-p-lb-028.ptc.un.org

UN ENVOY ON SEXUAL VIOLENCE IN CONFLICT STARTS FIRST OFFICIAL VISIT TO SOMALIA
New York, Apr 3 2013 2:00PM
A United Nations envoy has arrived in Somalia on an
information-gathering visit to raise awareness and discuss ways of
addressing sexual violence in the Horn of Africa country.

"I decided to make a trip to Somalia because I believe the country is
embarking on an important and exciting journey after many years of
conflict," <"http://unpos.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=9705&ctl=Details&mid=12667&ItemID=20266&language=en-US">said
the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence
in Conflict, Zainab Hawa Bangura.

"The Government has been engaged in this discussion and has expressed
openness to developing a framework of cooperation to address sexual
violence," Ms. Bangura added in the capital city of Mogadishu. This is
her visit to Somalia in her current capacity.

Ms. Bangura today met with UN officials, including from the UN
Political Office for Somalia (UNPOS), as well as civil society
partners and a range of stakeholders to listen and learn about the
challenges faced in tackling sexual violence.

A team of experts from her office will be deployed to Somalia in July,
Ms. Bangura said, to work alongside the police and the military to
assess their needs in the fields of training and prosecution.

"I want to offer the support of my office in helping the Government
achieve its stated goals of building an equitable society in which
human rights are respected and communities are free from sexual and
gender-based violence," she said.

Last month, Ms. Bangura and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon both
welcomed the decision by a Somali appeals court to overturn the
one-year conviction of a woman who claimed to be raped by security
forces. The journalist charged in connection with the case was also
subsequently released.

Earlier today, the Special Representative spoke to the media, praising
Somali journalists covering sexual violence in the country for their
important role in raising awareness about the subject.

"Without a free press to investigate and shine a light on these issues
so that people know what a devastating problem this is worldwide, we
can never hope to eradicate this scourge," she said.

Somalia, which has been affected by conflict for more than two
decades, has recently made some significant political gains. It marked
a political watershed last August when it swore in the first formal
parliament and ended a nine-year transition period, followed by the
appointments of a new President and a new Prime Minister.

Last month, Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon launched the Independent
Task Force to end the culture of impunity on human rights abuses in
the country.
Apr 3 2013 2:00PM
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