Source: UN Radio
A Joint Communiqué on the Prevention of Sexual Violence in Somalia was signed in London late Tuesday by UN Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson and the President of Somalia Hassan Sheik Mohamud.

The Joint Communiqué lists commitments, including the vetting of all individuals being integrated into the national security forces to guarantee that they have not committed human rights violations; ensuring the protection of survivors, witnesses and journalists who report on sexual violence; strengthening the protection from sexual violence for women and girls in camps for the internally displaced; ensuring access to services for survivors and encouraging and supporting the work of service providers; strengthening the rule of law, as well as building the capacity of the justice system to prevent and prosecute sexual violence crimes, including the training of magistrates..

Deputy Secretary-General Jan Eliasson said "In practice, that means bringing perpetrators to justice, providing assistance to survivors, and making sure the justice system has the capacity to tackle this crime".

The signing was welcomed by the Special Envoy of the Secretary-general on Sexual Violence Zainab Hawa Bangura who noted that her office is committed to increasing the support for survivors, and assisting the Government of Somalia in building its capacity to investigate, prosecute and adjudicate crimes of sexual violence and developing and implementing the legal framework to criminalize these acts..

 

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