Kampala: solidarity message from East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network to mark Somali Human Rights Day.

On the occasion of the Somali Human Rights Day celebrations, the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) wishes to extend sincere regards to the human rights defenders in Somalia, who have stood the test of the present times to farther the noble work to which they have committed themselves.

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EHAHRD-Net on a similar note wishes to congratulate the Dr. Ismail Jumaale Human Rights Organization (DIJHRO) for spearheading the organisation of today’s event, as well as all other human rights organisations in Somalia for their input towards making this day a success. Somalia has been a very tricky operating ground for human rights defenders during the past six months. The Network has recorded at least four cases of murder of human rights defenders, three of them being journalists; several media houses have been repeatedly shut down, while a number of journalists have been detained on numerous occasions. These incidents aim to intimidate fellow HRDs as to abandon their legitimate activities of defending human rights, and exercise unnecessary self censorship in fear of being the next targets.

The situation of human rights defenders in Somalia has been considerably worsened by the continued skirmishes involving the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) backed by Ethiopian forces, and remnants of the Islamic Courts Union (ICU) and their supporters. The time is now for both warring sides to take advantage of the National Reconciliation Congress to end all acts of violence as a first step towards national unity and the respect of human rights.