UN rallies Somalis to unite for common goal

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Calls to have Somalis unite for the sake of building a strong and stable nation intensified on Thursday with the United Nations now asking all citizens to come together for the sake of building a stable nation that handles challenges without discrimination or divisiveness like in previous years.

The UN said Somalis should unite to build a post-Covid-19 Somalia that is better for present and future generations. The country is one of the worst-hit with Covid-19 coupled with endless wars, among them the Al-Shabaab insurgency.

James Swan, UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia said the world body remains committed to supporting the promotion and protection of human rights for the benefit of the Somalis during this challenging time.

“Like other communities around the globe, the pandemic has also struck Somali society and has impacted on medical, social, political and economic aspects of the lives of Somalis,” Swan said in a statement issued in Mogadishu to mark the Human Rights Day whose theme centered on “Recover Better. Stand Up for Human Rights.”

The theme of this year aims to ensure that human rights are at the heart of recovery efforts and to combat the effects of the pandemic on vulnerable and marginalized groups. Somalia is also one country whose human rights records are often questioned at the international level.

The UN envoy said to recover better from the impact of Covid-19 entails strengthening commitment to human rights and to achieving the objectives set out in the Sustainable Development Goals.

“These include addressing inequalities among various communities, the provision of health and social protection systems, addressing environmental degradation, strengthening institutions, and addressing human rights violations,” said Swan.

He said the pandemic has added to the existing vulnerabilities that pose a serious threat of leaving even more people behind and exacerbating the already dire situation for the country’s most vulnerable populations following the impact of floods and desert locust infestation.

Observed on 10 December, Human Rights Day commemorates the day in 1948 on which the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Since then, the body has remained steadfast in defending human rights and even offering help to those who are insecure.

The UN remains one of the key development partners of the Federal Government of Somalia and has often supported peace deals. Currently, the body pays thousands of the African Union Mission Forces who are part of the peacekeeping mission in the country.

GAROWE ONLINE