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OHCHR / SOMALIA FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
STORY: OHCHR / SOMALIA FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
TRT: 01:49
SOURCE: OHCHR / UNSOM
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 04 SEPTEMBER 2016, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA
1. Wide shot, boat a float with Somalia flags
2. Various shots, Mogadishu street view
3. Med shot, UN Report on the right to freedom of expression in Somalia
4. Wide shot, briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Keating, UN Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“There are still too many examples of the denial of the freedom of expression. The UNSOM Human Rights and Protection Group, has documented the killing of 30 journalists and media workers in Somalia between 2012 and this year.”
6. Various shots, woman taking notes
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Keating, UN Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“UNSOM has also recorded 120 instances of arbitrary arrests and detention of journalists, media workers and media outlets by members of the security forces between January 2014 and July 2016. And half of these cases occurred in Somaliland alone. Attacks, threats of attacks and other forms of harassment, muzzle journalists by promoting self-censorship on politically sensitive issues like corruption in government and human rights violations.”
10. Wide shot, briefing room
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Michael Keating, UN Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM):
“The Federal government should review and withdraw laws and practices that currently restrict and endanger the right to freedom of expression.”
12. Wide shot, Mogadishu skyline
13. Wide shot, smoke behind minaret
A recent United Nations (UN) report on freedom of expression in Somalia urged the Somalian government to “review and withdraw laws and practices that currently restrict and endanger the right to freedom of expression.”
The report describes progress in state-building in Somalia, but shows the very challenging environment that continues to confront journalists, human rights defenders and political leaders, including numerous killings, arrests, intimidation and closure of critical media outlets.
Noting that “there are still too many examples of the denial of the freedom of expression,” the UN Special Representative for Somalia and Chief of the UN Somalia Mission Michael Keating told reporters that the UNSOM Human Rights and Protection Group has documented the killing of 30 journalists and media workers in Somalia between 2012 and this year.
On arbitrary arrests and attacks against journalists and media outlets, Keating said UNSOM had also recorded 120 instances of arbitrary arrests and detention of journalists, media workers and media outlets by members of the security forces between January 2014 and July 2016, "and half of these cases occurred in Somaliland alone,” adding that “attacks, threats of attacks and other forms of harassment, muzzle journalists by promoting self-censorship on politically sensitive issues like corruption in government and human rights violations.”
The report aims to widen the democratic space in Somalia’s political transition. Somalia is emerging from more than 20 years of anarchy following the overthrow of the military regime of President Siad Barre in 1991. In 2012, a new internationally-backed government was installed and Somalia has been inching towards stability, but the authorities continue to face numerous challenges from Al-Qaeda-aligned Al-Shabab insurgents.
The report was produced jointly by the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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