UN rights chief urges Somali lawmakers to reject bill legitimizing child marriage
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said Monday that the draft legislation introduced by parliamentarians in Somalia must not be enacted as it violates international human rights norms, including legitimizing child marriage. “This new draft legislation would represent a serious step backward for the rights of victims of sexual violence in Somalia, in [...]
The UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the UN Human Rights Office released a joint report on Monday advising Somalia to take precautions to ensure that the human rights violations that occurred last year would not have a negative impact on their peace efforts or future elections. According to UNSOM, these violations had a direct [...]
ICJ rules it has jurisdiction over Kenya-Somalia boundary dispute
The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Thursday ruled that it had the authority to adjudicate a dispute over a stretch of water in the Indian Ocean that is potentially laden with oil and gas. Somalia asked...
Amnesty International (AI) on Tuesday urged the Kenyan government to cease coercing refugees into leaving the Dadaab refugee camp and returning to Somalia. The Kenyan government announced its intention to close Dadaab, the world's largest refugee...
The UN Security Council expressed regret on Friday regarding postponed elections in Somalia. The council called on all parties to implement the 2016 electoral calendar without delay. The parliamentary elections, planned to take place...
Federal appeals court rules Somali pirate cannot withdraw plea deal
The US Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit ruled Wednesday that a Somali man convicted of piracy cannot withdraw his plea deal . Abdiwali Abdiqadir Muse was the sole surviving pirate suspect from the...
Federal appeals court affirms decision in Somalia torture case
The US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit affirmed the decision of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia , holding Monday that a Somali torture claim lacked a "sufficient nexus"...
UN rights expert urges continued international support for Somalia
UN Assistant Secretary-General for human rights Ivan Simonovic called on Somalia's international partners Tuesday to increase their aid in order for the country to maintain its gains in protecting its citizens' human rights. Simonovic described the major...
The Australian parliament on Monday passed the Copyright Amendment (Online Infringement) Bill 2015 to prevent the online piracy of film and TV shows. The approved legislation gives rights holders the chance to go to a...
Kenyan police on Thursday charged five men in connection with the attack on Garissa University by al-Shabaab militants in April. The attack by Somali Islamist gunmen killed 148 students, making it the nation's worst militant attack in nearly 20...
