Help Somalia to build on "hopeful" present situation: human rights expert
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Shamsul Bari, Independent Expert on the situation of Human Rights in Somalia addressing 18th Session of Human Right Council
Somalia is undergoing a period of rebirth, a UN independent expert told the Geneva-based Human Rights Council on Wednesday.
Shamsul Bari, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Somalia, says that despite continuing violence, the situation in the country is "less despondent" and "hopeful."
After years without a government followed by transitional rule, Somalia adopted a provisional constitution in August and elected a new President in September.
Bari recently visited the Somali capital, Mogadishu, where he met with a variety of people, including the new Speaker of Parliament, women leaders, ordinary citizens and refugees.
"I heard more confident expressions of hope than ever before. The challenge now before all concerned with Somalia is to help realize that hope. To do that, the new government of Somalia, the members of the new Parliament, the leaders and the people of Somalia, the UN, the international community as a whole, must work together to face the many challenges that lie ahead.” (Duration: 26″)
