Commemorating International Human Rights Day
About Commemorating International Human Rights Day
On 10 December 2012, Puntland Human Rights Association (PHRA) celebrated the international Human Rights Day in Qardho district of Puntland Federal State of Somalia. This event was among the activities and events of a 16 days activism program which the organization was implementing in Qardho with support and funds from the UNWOMEN agency through the UNDP Somalia office.
The organization invited all forks of life in Qardho using the conference hall of the municipality of Qardho which is located at the centre of the town and everyone can get access to it. The invited participants included women working NGOs, youth activists, students from secondary schools, East
Somalia University, East Africa University, community representatives from Internally Displaced communities in Qardho, journalists, religious groups- Sheikhs and members from city council.
The theme of the Human Rights Day in 2012 “MY VOICE COUNTS”
Objective of the event.
· To raise the awareness on rights of minority people, women and internally displaced communities especially those from southern regions of Somalia in order their voices are heard.
Deputy Governor of Karkar regional authority of Puntland Mr. Yonis Ali Farah opened the meeting of Human Rights Day. He revealed that human rights are compulsory and obligatory to everyone to protect as Sharia law guides us.
He added, as authority we are assuring that his administration is ready to keep that and very committed to fulfill human rights principles.
He also mentioned that Puntland state administration has punished a lot of perpetrators and criminals who have done violence against women and girls including rape and attempt rape cases.The speeches and statements from the government officials in the meeting were considered important steps for gaining the authority’s commitment in protecting and promoting women’s rights.
Representative from Puntland legal Aid centre Mr. Abdi Gamgam was also among people who admired the commemoration of this day.Child protection Officer of Puntland Human Rights Association Mr. Hassan Elmi Guure presented the statement from Puntland Human Rights Association on this day of commemoration of International Human Rights Day and stated that violence against women and girls is increasingly recognized as a major development concern, a human rights violation and an impediment to the attaining of international goals including the millennium development goals (MDGs) and itsmillennium declarations.
By the end of the program, the participants issued statement on about ending violence against women and girls and calling upon the Puntland
government to act ending the violence against women in Puntland and to pass laws and Bills to criminalise all sexual offences in Puntland Federal state of Somalia.