Somalia: Puntland launches first Forensic Center in Garowe

GAROWE, Puntland - Somalia’s northeastern semi-autonomous region of Puntland has inaugurated a forensic center, becoming the first of its kind to be built in the horn of Africa country, Garowe Online reports.

The launching event, was held in Garowe city, the state capital of Puntland on Wednesday with the participation of top officials from the Puntland government, Judiciary, UNFPA, diplomat, and members of the civil society.

The new center is aimed to better address the Gender-Based Violence in the communities living in Puntland who need scientific researches and produces reliable information about sexual offenses.

The building of this clinic code-named Puntland Forensic Center has been implemented by Sweden which donated necessary equipment, in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

During flagship event, Nikolai Botev, UNFPA Representative for Somalia, said the new program has significant benefit and will play an important role in the revealing of the persons accused of sex crimes.

Barni Nuur, from the Swedish Embassy in Somalia, said: "It's a great pleasure to see such progress in Somalia." She added rape is a crime Somali culture, and called for cooperation in the elimination of this custom.

Puntland's Attorney General, Maxamud Hassan Aw-Osman said the center helps Puntland government in the information related to the sex offenses in the region, saying its lab will be their prime reference.

Mohamud said there has been increasing false reports of rape cases and warned local NGOs in the country against sourcing their findings from outside people familiar and Puntland Forensic Center.

The Ministers of Health, Security, Justice and Women affairs indicated that this laboratory will facilitate getting evidence for the offender and end to the past need to seek Forensic lab from abroad.

GAROWEONLINE