“As long as people, in particular women and children, are unaware of their rights they will not speak out against any violation or harm done to them,” Women Rights Minister Khadija Diriye said upon her return from the global summit to end sexual violence, which was hosted by London on June 10-13.
“This is a culture that must change,” she said. “The national action plan highlights a clear structure and action to achieve this.”
“It is a consultative plan which puts emphasis on improving survivor-centered support systems and protection, allowing effective security and institutional reform,” said the minister.
Mogadishu has vowed to fully support the International protocol on the documentation and investigation of sexual violence in conflict passed in the London summit.
Somalia has been at war for two decades since the ousting of Siad Barre.
Sexual abuse and child soldier recruitment has been widely reported during this period.
The UN reported that in the first half of 2013 at least 800 Somali women, mostly in internally displaced camps, had been sexually abused.
Foreign Affairs Minister Abdurahman Beileh, who also attended the London summit, said Somalia will embark on reforming its justice system to ensure the protection of fundamental rights of its citizens.
“A solid and refined justice system in Somalia will allow proper documentation and investigation of incidents of sexual violence and it will give the victims a platform to share information that will be handled correctly,” he said.
Source: Anadolu Agency
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