CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION & HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY

CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN

2009-04-08T09:59:00.002-07:00

On 18 December 1979, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. It entered into force as an international treaty on 3 September 1981 after the twentieth country had ratified it. By the tenth anniversary of the Convention in 1989, almost one hundred nations have agreed to be bound by its provisions.
The Convention was the culmination of more than thirty years of work by the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, a body established in 1946 to monitor the situation of women and to promote women's rights. The Commission's work has been instrumental in bringing to light all the areas in which women are denied equality with men. These efforts for the advancement of women have resulted in several declarations and conventions, of which the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women is the central and most comprehensive document.
Among the international human rights treaties, the Convention takes an important place in bringing the female half of humanity into the focus of human rights concerns. The spirit of the Convention is rooted in the goals of the United Nations: to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity,v and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women. The present document spells out the meaning of equality and how it can be achieved. In so doing, the Convention establishes not only an international bill of rights for women, but also an agenda for action by countries to guarantee the enjoyment of those rights.
In its preamble, the Convention explicitly acknowledges that "extensive discrimination against women continues to exist", and emphasizes that such discrimination "violates the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity". As defined in article 1, discrimination is understood as "any distinction, exclusion or restriction made o.1 the basis of sex...in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field". The Convention gives positive affirmation to the principle of equality by requiring States parties to take "all appropriate measures, including legislation, to ensure the full development and advancement of women, for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men"(article 3).
The agenda for equality is specified in fourteen subsequent articles. In its approach, the Convention covers three dimensions of the situation of women. Civil rights and the legal status of women are dealt with in great detail. In addition, and unlike other human rights treaties, the Convention is also concerned with the dimension of human reproduction as well as with the impact of cultural factors on gender relations.
The legal status of women receives the broadest attention. Concern over the basic rights of political participation has not diminished since the adoption of the Convention on the Political Rights of Women in 1952. Its provisions, therefore, are restated in article 7 of the present document, whereby women are guaranteed the rights to vote, to hold public office and to exercise public functions. This includes equal rights for women to represent their countries at the international level (article 8).
The Convention on the Nationality of Married Women - adopted in 1957 - is integrated under article 9 providing for the statehood of women, irrespective of their marital status. The Convention, thereby, draws attention to the fact that often women's legal status has been linked to marriage, making them dependent on their husband's nationality rather than individuals in their own right. Articles 10, 11 and 13, respectively, affirm women's rights to non-discrimination in education, employment and economic and social activities. These demands are given special emphasis with regard to the situation of rural women, whose particular struggles and vital economic contributions, as noted in article 14, warrant more attention in policy planning. Article 15 asserts the full equality of women in civil and business matters, demanding that all instruments directed at restricting women's legal capacity ''shall be deemed null and void". Finally, in article 16, the Convention returns to the issue of marriage and family relations, asserting the equal rights and obligations of women and men with regard to choice of spouse, parenthood, personal rights and command over property.Aside from civil rights issues, the Convention also devotes major attention to a most vital concern of women, namely their reproductive rights.
The preamble sets the tone by stating that "the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination". The link between discrimination and women's reproductive role is a matter of recurrent concern in the Convention. For example, it advocates, in article 5, ''a proper understanding of maternity as a social function", demanding fully shared responsibility for child-rearing by both sexes. Accordingly, provisions for maternity protection and child-care are proclaimed as essential rights and are incorporated into all areas of the Convention, whether dealing with employment, family law, health core or education.
Society's obligation extends to offering social services, especially child-care facilities, that allow individuals to combine family responsibilities with work and participation in public life. Special measures for maternity protection are recommended and "shall not be considered discriminatory". (article 4). "The Convention also affirms women's right to reproductive choice. Notably, it is the only human rights treaty to mention family planning. States parties are obliged to include advice on family planning in the education process (article l O.h) and to develop family codes that guarantee women's rights "to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to hove access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights" (article 16.e).The third general thrust of the Convention aims at enlarging our understanding of the concept of human rights, as it gives formal recognition to the influence of culture and tradition on restricting women's enjoyment of their fundamental rights. These forces take shape in stereotypes, customs and norms which give rise to the multitude of legal, political and economic constraints on the advancement of women.
Noting this interrelationship, the preamble of the Convention stresses "that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality of men and women". States parties are therefore obliged to work towards the modification of social and cultural patterns of individual conduct in order to eliminate "prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women" (article 5).
And Article 1O.c. mandates the revision of textbooks, school programmes and teaching methods with a view to eliminating stereotyped concepts in the field of education. Finally, cultural patterns which define the public realm as a man's world and the domestic sphere as women's domain are strongly targeted in all of the Convention's provisions that affirm the equal responsibilities of both sexes in family life and their equal rights with regard to education and employment. Altogether, the Convention provides a comprehensive framework for challenging the various forces that have created and sustained discrimination based upon sex.
The implementation of the Convention is monitored by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). The Committee's mandate and the administration of the treaty are defined in the Articles 17 to 30 of the Convention. The Committee is composed of 23 experts nominated by their Governments and elected by the States parties as individuals "of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention".
At least every four years, the States parties are expected to submit a national report to the Committee, indicating the measures they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the Convention. During its annual session, the Committee members discuss these reports with the Government representatives and explore with them areas for further action by the specific country. The Committee also makes general recommendations to the States parties on matters concerning the elimination of discrimination against women.
The full text of the Convention is set out herein
CONVENTION ON THE ELIMINATION OF ALL FORMS OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST WOMEN
The States Parties to the present Convention,Noting that the Charter of the United Nations reaffirms faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person and in the equal rights of men and women,Noting that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms the principle of the inadmissibility of discrimination and proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, including distinction based on sex,
Noting that the States Parties to the International Covenants on Human Rights have the obligation to ensure the equal rights of men and women to enjoy all economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights,
Considering the international conventions concluded under the auspices of the United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality of rights of men and women,
Noting also the resolutions, declarations and recommendations adopted by the United Nations and the specialized agencies promoting equality of rights of men and women,
Concerned, however, that despite these various instruments extensive discrimination against women continues to exist,
Recalling that discrimination against women violates the principles of equality of rights and respect for human dignity, is an obstacle to the participation of women, on equal terms with men, in the political, social, economic and cultural life of their countries, hampers the growth of the prosperity of society and the family and makes more difficult the full development of the potentialities of women in the service of their countries and of humanity,
Concerned that in situations of poverty women have the least access to food, health, education, training and opportunities for employment and other needs,
Convinced that the establishment of the new international economic order based on equity and justice will contribute significantly towards the promotion of equality between men and women,
Emphasizing that the eradication of apartheid, all forms of racism, racial discrimination, colonialism, neo-colonialism, aggression, foreign occupation and domination and interference in the internal affairs of States is essential to the full enjoyment of the rights of men and women,
Affirming that the strengthening of international peace and security, the relaxation of international tension, mutual co-operation among all States irrespective of their social and economic systems, general and complete disarmament, in particular nuclear disarmament under strict and effective international control, the affirmation of the principles of justice, equality and mutual benefit in relations among countries and the realization of the right of peoples under alien and colonial domination and foreign occupation to self-determination and independence, as well as respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, will promote social progress and development and as a consequence will contribute to the attainment of full equality between men and women,
Convinced that the full and complete development of a country, the welfare of the world and the cause of peace require the maximum participation of women on equal terms with men in all fields,
Bearing in mind the great contribution of women to the welfare of the family and to the development of society, so far not fully recognized, the social significance of maternity and the role of both parents in the family and in the upbringing of children, and aware that the role of women in procreation should not be a basis for discrimination but that the upbringing of children requires a sharing of responsibility between men and women and society as a whole,
Aware that a change in the traditional role of men as well as the role of women in society and in the family is needed to achieve full equality between men and women,
Determined to implement the principles set forth in the Declaration on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women and, for that purpose, to adopt the measures required for the elimination of such discrimination in all its forms and manifestations,
Have agreed on the following:PART I Article IFor the purposes of the present Convention, the term "discrimination against women" shall mean any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other field.Article 2States Parties condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, agree to pursue by all appropriate means and without delay a policy of eliminating discrimination against women and, to this end, undertake:(a) To embody the principle of the equality of men and women in their national constitutions or other appropriate legislation if not yet incorporated therein and to ensure, through law and other appropriate means, the practical realization of this principle;(b) To adopt appropriate legislative and other measures, including sanctions where appropriate, prohibiting all discrimination against women;(c) To establish legal protection of the rights of women on an equal basis with men and to ensure through competent national tribunals and other public institutions the effective protection of women against any act of discrimination;(d) To refrain from engaging in any act or practice of discrimination against women and to ensure that public authorities and institutions shall act in conformity with this obligation;(e) To take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women by any person, organization or enterprise;(f) To take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations, customs and practices which constitute discrimination against women;(g) To repeal all national penal provisions which constitute discrimination against women.Article 3States Parties shall take in all fields, in particular in the political, social, economic and cultural fields, all appropriate measures, including legislation, to en sure the full development and advancement of women , for the purpose of guaranteeing them the exercise and enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms on a basis of equality with men.Article 41. Adoption by States Parties of temporary special measures aimed at accelerating de facto equality between men and women shall not be considered discrimination as defined in the present Convention, but shall in no way entail as a consequence the maintenance of unequal or separate standards; these measures shall be discontinued when the objectives of equality of opportunity and treatment have been achieved.2. Adoption by States Parties of special measures, including those measures contained in the present Convention, aimed at protecting maternity shall not be considered discriminatory.Article 5States Parties shall take all appropriate measures:(a) To modify the social and cultural patterns of conduct of men and women, with a view to achieving the elimination of prejudices and customary and all other practices which are based on the idea of the inferiority or the superiority of either of the sexes or on stereotyped roles for men and women;(b) To ensure that family education includes a proper understanding of maternity as a social function and the recognition of the common responsibility of men and women in the upbringing and development of their children, it being understood that the interest of the children is the primordial consideration in all cases.Article 6States Parties shall take all appropriate measures, including legislation, to suppress all forms of traffic in women and exploitation of prostitution of women.PART II Article 7States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the political and public life of the country and, in particular, shall ensure to women, on equal terms with men, the right:(a) To vote in all elections and public referenda and to be eligible for election to all publicly elected bodies;(b) To participate in the formulation of government policy and the implementation thereof and to hold public office and perform all public functions at all levels of government;(c) To participate in non-governmental organizations and associations concerned with the public and political life of the country.Article 8States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to ensure to women, on equal terms with men and without any discrimination, the opportunity to represent their Governments at the international level and to participate in the work of international organizations.Article 91. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men to acquire, change or retain their nationality. They shall ensure in particular that neither marriage to an alien nor change of nationality by the husband during marriage shall automatically change the nationality of the wife, render her stateless or force upon her the nationality of the husband.2. States Parties shall grant women equal rights with men with respect to the nationality of their children.PART III Article 10States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in order to ensure to them equal rights with men in the field of education and in particular to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:(a) The same conditions for career and vocational guidance, for access to studies and for the achievement of diplomas in educational establishments of all categories in rural as well as in urban areas; this equality shall be ensured in pre-school, general, technical, professional and higher technical education, as well as in all types of vocational training;(b) Access to the same curricula, the same examinations, teaching staff with qualifications of the same standard and school premises and equipment of the same quality;(c) The elimination of any stereotyped concept of the roles of men and women at all levels and in all forms of education by encouraging coeducation and other types of education which will help to achieve this aim and, in particular, by the revision of textbooks and school programmes and the adaptation of teaching methods;(d ) The same opportunities to benefit from scholarships and other study grants;(e) The same opportunities for access to programmes of continuing education, including adult and functional literacy programmes, particulary those aimed at reducing, at the earliest possible time, any gap in education existing between men and women;(f) The reduction of female student drop-out rates and the organization of programmes for girls and women who have left school prematurely;(g) The same Opportunities to participate actively in sports and physical education;(h) Access to specific educational information to help to ensure the health and well-being of families, including information and advice on family planning.Article 111. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of employment in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the same rights, in particular:(a) The right to work as an inalienable right of all human beings;(b) The right to the same employment opportunities, including the application of the same criteria for selection in matters of employment;(c) The right to free choice of profession and employment, the right to promotion, job security and all benefits and conditions of service and the right to receive vocational training and retraining, including apprenticeships, advanced vocational training and recurrent training;(d) The right to equal remuneration, including benefits, and to equal treatment in respect of work of equal value, as well as equality of treatment in the evaluation of the quality of work;(e) The right to social security, particularly in cases of retirement, unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and other incapacity to work, as well as the right to paid leave;(f) The right to protection of health and to safety in working conditions, including the safeguarding of the function of reproduction.2. In order to prevent discrimination against women on the grounds of marriage or maternity and to ensure their effective right to work, States Parties shall take appropriate measures:(a) To prohibit, subject to the imposition of sanctions, dismissal on the grounds of pregnancy or of maternity leave and discrimination in dismissals on the basis of marital status;(b) To introduce maternity leave with pay or with comparable social benefits without loss of former employment, seniority or social allowances;(c) To encourage the provision of the necessary supporting social services to enable parents to combine family obligations with work responsibilities and participation in public life, in particular through promoting the establishment and development of a network of child-care facilities;(d) To provide special protection to women during pregnancy in types of work proved to be harmful to them.3. Protective legislation relating to matters covered in this article shall be reviewed periodically in the light of scientific and technological knowledge and shall be revised, repealed or extended as necessary.Article 121. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning.2. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph I of this article, States Parties shall ensure to women appropriate services in connection with pregnancy, confinement and the post-natal period, granting free services where necessary, as well as adequate nutrition during pregnancy and lactation.Article 13States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in other areas of economic and social life in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, the same rights, in particular:(a) The right to family benefits;(b) The right to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit;(c) The right to participate in recreational activities, sports and all aspects of cultural life.Article 141. States Parties shall take into account the particular problems faced by rural women and the significant roles which rural women play in the economic survival of their families, including their work in the non-monetized sectors of the economy, and shall take all appropriate measures to ensure the application of the provisions of the present Convention to women in rural areas.2. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in rural areas in order to ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women, that they participate in and benefit from rural development and, in particular, shall ensure to such women the right:(a) To participate in the elaboration and implementation of development planning at all levels;(b) To have access to adequate health care facilities, including information, counselling and services in family planning;(c) To benefit directly from social security programmes;(d) To obtain all types of training and education, formal and non-formal, including that relating to functional literacy, as well as, inter alia, the benefit of all community and extension services, in order to increase their technical proficiency;(e) To organize self-help groups and co-operatives in order to obtain equal access to economic opportunities through employment or self employment;(f) To participate in all community activities;(g) To have access to agricultural credit and loans, marketing facilities, appropriate technology and equal treatment in land and agrarian reform as well as in land resettlement schemes;(h) To enjoy adequate living conditions, particularly in relation to housing, sanitation, electricity and water supply, transport and communications.PART IV Article 151. States Parties shall accord to women equality with men before the law.2. States Parties shall accord to women, in civil matters, a legal capacity identical to that of men and the same opportunities to exercise that capacity. In particular, they shall give women equal rights to conclude contracts and to administer property and shall treat them equally in all stages of procedure in courts and tribunals.3. States Parties agree that all contracts and all other private instruments of any kind with a legal effect which is directed at restricting the legal capacity of women shall be deemed null and void.4. States Parties shall accord to men and women the same rights with regard to the law relating to the movement of persons and the freedom to choose their residence and domicile.Article 161. States Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in all matters relating to marriage and family relations and in particular shall ensure, on a basis of equality of men and women:(a) The same right to enter into marriage;(b) The same right freely to choose a spouse and to enter into marriage only with their free and full consent;(c) The same rights and responsibilities during marriage and at its dissolution;(d) The same rights and responsibilities as parents, irrespective of their marital status, in matters relating to their children; in all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount;(e) The same rights to decide freely and responsibly on the number and spacing of their children and to have access to the information, education and means to enable them to exercise these rights;(f) The same rights and responsibilities with regard to guardianship, wardship, trusteeship and adoption of children, or similar institutions where these concepts exist in national legislation; in all cases the interests of the children shall be paramount;(g) The same personal rights as husband and wife, including the right to choose a family name, a profession and an occupation;(h) The same rights for both spouses in respect of the ownership, acquisition, management, administration, enjoyment and disposition of property, whether free of charge or for a valuable consideration.2. The betrothal and the marriage of a child shall have no legal effect, and all necessary action, including legislation, shall be taken to specify a minimum age for marriage and to make the registration of marriages in an official registry compulsory.PART V Article 171. For the purpose of considering the progress made in the implementation of the present Convention, there shall be established a Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (hereinafter referred to as the Committee) consisting, at the time of entry into force of the Convention, of eighteen and, after ratification of or accession to the Convention by the thirty-fifth State Party, of twenty-three experts of high moral standing and competence in the field covered by the Convention. The experts shall be elected by States Parties from among their nationals and shall serve in their personal capacity, consideration being given to equitable geographical distribution and to the representation of the different forms of civilization as well as the principal legal systems.2. The members of the Committee shall be elected by secret ballot from a list of persons nominated by States Parties. Each State Party may nominate one person from among its own nationals.3. The initial election shall be held six months after the date of the entry into force of the present Convention. At least three months before the date of each election the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address a letter to the States Parties inviting them to submit their nominations within two months. The Secretary-General shall prepare a list in alphabetical order of all persons thus nominated, indicating the States Parties which have nominated them, and shall submit it to the States Parties.4. Elections of the members of the Committee shall be held at a meeting of States Parties convened by the Secretary-General at United Nations Headquarters. At that meeting, for which two thirds of the States Parties shall constitute a quorum, the persons elected to the Committee shall be those nominees who obtain the largest number of votes and an absolute majority of the votes of the representatives of States Parties present and voting.5. The members of the Committee shall be elected for a term of four years. However, the terms of nine of the members elected at the first election shall expire at the end of two years; immediately after the first election the names of these nine members shall be chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee.6. The election of the five additional members of the Committee shall be held in accordance with the provisions of paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 of this article, following the thirty-fifth ratification or accession. The terms of two of the additional members elected on this occasion shall expire at the end of two years, the names of these two members having been chosen by lot by the Chairman of the Committee.7. For the filling of casual vacancies, the State Party whose expert has ceased to function as a member of the Committee shall appoint another expert from among its nationals, subject to the approval of the Committee.8. The members of the Committee shall, with the approval of the General Assembly, receive emoluments from United Nations resources on such terms and conditions as the Assembly may decide, having regard to the importance of the Committee's responsibilities.9. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall provide the necessary staff and facilities for the effective performance of the functions of the Committee under the present Convention.Article 181. States Parties undertake to submit to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for consideration by the Committee, a report on the legislative, judicial, administrative or other measures which they have adopted to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention and on the progress made in this respect:(a) Within one year after the entry into force for the State concerned;(b) Thereafter at least every four years and further whenever the Committee so requests.2. Reports may indicate factors and difficulties affecting the degree of fulfilment of obligations under the present Convention.Article 191. The Committee shall adopt its own rules of procedure.2. The Committee shall elect its officers for a term of two years.Article 201. The Committee shall normally meet for a period of not more than two weeks annually in order to consider the reports submitted in accordance with article 18 of the present Convention.2. The meetings of the Committee shall normally be held at United Nations Headquarters or at any other convenient place as determined by the Committee. (amendment, status of ratification)Article 211. The Committee shall, through the Economic and Social Council, report annually to the General Assembly of the United Nations on its activities and may make suggestions and general recommendations based on the examination of reports and information received from the States Parties. Such suggestions and general recommendations shall be included in the report of the Committee together with comments, if any, from States Parties.2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit the reports of the Committee to the Commission on the Status of Women for its information.Article 22The specialized agencies shall be entitled to be represented at the consideration of the implementation of such provisions of the present Convention as fall within the scope of their activities. The Committee may invite the specialized agencies to submit reports on the implementation of the Convention in areas falling within the scope of their activities.PART VI Article 23Nothing in the present Convention shall affect any provisions that are more conducive to the achievement of equality between men and women which may be contained:(a) In the legislation of a State Party; or(b) In any other international convention, treaty or agreement in force for that State.Article 24States Parties undertake to adopt all necessary measures at the national level aimed at achieving the full realization of the rights recognized in the present Convention.Article 251. The present Convention shall be open for signature by all States.2. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is designated as the depositary of the present Convention.3. The present Convention is subject to ratification. Instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.4. The present Convention shall be open to accession by all States. Accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of accession with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.Article 261. A request for the revision of the present Convention may be made at any time by any State Party by means of a notification in writing addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.2. The General Assembly of the United Nations shall decide upon the steps, if any, to be taken in respect of such a request.Article 271. The present Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of deposit with the Secretary-General of the United Nations of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession.2. For each State ratifying the present Convention or acceding to it after the deposit of the twentieth instrument of ratification or accession, the Convention shall enter into force on the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of its own instrument of ratification or accession.Article 281. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall receive and circulate to all States the text of reservations made by States at the time of ratification or accession.2. A reservation incompatible with the object and purpose of the present Convention shall not be permitted.3. Reservations may be withdrawn at any time by notification to this effect addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall then inform all States thereof. Such notification shall take effect on the date on which it is received.Article 291. Any dispute between two or more States Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the present Convention which is not settled by negotiation shall, at the request of one of them, be submitted to arbitration. If within six months from the date of the request for arbitration the parties are unable to agree on the organization of the arbitration, any one of those parties may refer the dispute to the International Court of Justice by request in conformity with the Statute of the Court.2. Each State Party may at the time of signature or ratification of the present Convention or accession thereto declare that it does not consider itself bound by paragraph I of this article. The other States Parties shall not be bound by that paragraph with respect to any State Party which has made such a reservation.3. Any State Party which has made a reservation in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article may at any time withdraw that reservation by notification to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.Article 30The present Convention, the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts of which are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorized, have signed the present Convention.

Peace, Human Rights and Accountability - The Need for a New Doctrine On International Intervention In Somalia

2008-12-26T00:44:00.000-08:00

In the post-Cold War, the international community has been forced to deal with complex emergencies in multiple trouble spots. Each crisis has presented different challenges and, by any measure, the United Nations' track record is mixed at best. Yet one particular failure, in Somalia, seems to dominate the thinking. There are certainly lessons to be learned from the failed intervention in Somalia, but the world seems to be learning the wrong lessons. Because of Somalia, the United Nations bureaucracy now insists that outside assistance will be provided only if parties to a conflict expressly consent to it. European skeptics have found new currency to their views that conflict in far-off lands is "ancestral" and "centuries-old" and that it is a naive mistake to attempt even to address their most immediate present consequences. In the United States, neo-isolationism feeds on the example of Somalia to press for a foreign policy that yearns for the ability to exercise power without accepting the responsibilities of leadership. The result is a dangerous tendency by the world community to shirk its duty to prevent and punish the crime of genocide (as in Rwanda), to look the other way while grave breaches of the laws of war are committed (as in Chechnya) or to acquiesce in the impunity of crimes against humanity (as in the promotion of shameless amnesties as a quick fix in Haiti).

There have certainly been serious mistakes in the way the international community has responded to crises in the last few years. But there has also been a reluctance to learn from some moderate successes. In El Salvador, in Haiti and in Cambodia, for example, the efforts of the United Nations have succeeded not only in putting an end to conflict, precarious as that end might seem even now, but also in establishing the bases for democratic institutions that offer the best hope for peaceful resolution of conflict in future years. In all three examples, the UN incorporated human rights principles during the negotiations and later found creative mechanisms for verification on the ground. A similar approach is showing some promise in Guatemala as this essay is being written. Typically, civilian monitors are sent to verify compliance by all parties with carefully crafted accords that apply universal human rights standards to the realities on the ground. With respect to egregious abuses of the most recent past, the UN assists in the process of reconciliation by supporting "truth commissions" or similar forms of coming to grips with the demands of truth and justice.

In spite of those successes, the UN has refused to develop a "doctrine" by which human rights and accountability would become an essential part of any peace process. In Somalia, human rights and accountability were conspicuously left out of the UN-brokered negotiations between the many warring factions. There was a token and completely meaningless assignment of responsibility for human rights to one official in the extensive field operation, and there was never any attempt to monitor the behavior of the forces brought in under the UN flag for compliance with international humanitarian law. Human rights verification and insistence on accountability have been similarly left out by the UN in Angola.

In his most recent policy statement about peace-keeping, Secretary General Boutrohumanrights in somalias Boutros-Ghali did not include human rights or accountability as one of the conditions of UN involvement in disputes. He did, however, propose certain pre-requisites for such future ventures, mostly drawn from a sober assessment of the recent experiences. One significant condition demanded by the Secretary General is that the parties to the conflict must demonstrate a commitment to seek honorable solutions by expressly consenting to a UN role. It is easy to see that the lack of such consent was a decisive factor in Somalia and in Angola, at least at the time when Jonas Savimbi, leader of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola, ignored the results of UN-monitored elections and resumed the war. Of course, consent must be sought and commitments demanded whenever possible. But erecting this as a condition amounts to a confession of impotence in those situations in which it is unrealistic to expect that consent, at least in the early stages of a crisis. Does it mean that the international community will let vulnerable populations die in man-made humanitarian catastrophes or in mass killings until one or the other party decides that there is no longer a political or military advantage to behaving in contempt for fundamental rights? If that is the case, this "doctrine" rewards uncivilized and ruthless conduct. By dampening unrealistic expectations, the UN in fact may be unwillingly contributing to the generation and expansion of future complex emergencies.

The UN also errs when it tries to exercise its traditional peace-keeping roles in situations where there are massive violations of human rights. In traditional peace-keeping, it is legitimate to expect both parties to a conflict to agree to the presence of a neutral force to ensure compliance with temporary arrangements. By definition, therefore, the peace-keepers must be scrupulously neutral to the conflict. This neutrality, however, is a hindrance when what is needed is the protection of innocent and helpless civilians who are at the mercy of a government or a force bent on the commission of crimes against humanity. In Rwanda, for example, the conflict between the former government and the Rwandan Patriotic Front was no more than a distant backdrop to the real problem: genocide committed by pro-government forces against the Tutsi minority. Given the clear obligation in international law to prevent genocide, the international community should and could have found ways to save Tutsi lives while engaged in the peacekeeping. Instead, it found a pretext for inaction in the need to remain neutral in the internal conflict.

The theory of "age-old rivalries" is likewise also based on important grains of truth. It makes no sense to try to correct situations without an attempt to understand them. But too frequently these explanations are just as simplistic and superficial as the attitudes they rail against. Significantly, they fail to take into account that age-old rivalries and distrust are usually manipulated by politicians and demagogues for short-term gain to fuel the fires of conflict by exploiting ignorance and fear of the future among communities. Even if age-old rivalries are hard to solve in the short term, there is certainly something that the international community can and should do to prevent their descent into genocide, crimes against humanity, or war crimes. This mind set about age-old conflict is what prevails so far in the international community's response to the former Yugoslavia, and it explains to a large extent the failure to obtain results despite extensive military, humanitarian, and diplomatic intervention. Not only has it been impossible to prevent ethnic cleansing, but the significant effort to secure accountability embodied in the creation of a war crimes tribunal has been marred by foot-dragging and reluctance in providing it with adequate funding. Those early problems seem to have been overcome, but the fate of the tribunal is still threatened by attempts to throw it in as a bargaining chip in exchange for peace. An amnesty that would immunize the killers from prosecution is recurrently mentioned as a possible carrot for the parties to accept a peace plan. It is not only that this "peace" that does not deserve its name would be a shameful resolution to the conflict; more immediately, it encourages continued fighting and undermines the authority and credibility of a tribunal created with the lofty goal of standing up to genocide in our time.

The current winds of neo-isolationism in the United States go far beyond the lessons of Somalia. In fact, they attempt to prevent U.S. participation even in those instances when the venture has been remarkably successful and risk-free, as in Haiti. In this sense, they betray a lack of interest or concern for the spread of democracy, as if poor and underdeveloped nations were not entitled to the benefits of civil and political freedom. This way of thinking about U.S. responsibilities abroad would have a healthy effect on the debate if it contributed a sense of the limitations of what armed forces can do in complex emergencies and the dangers of excessive reliance on military solutions. Unfortunately, these voices rarely scrutinize the role the military may have played in the mistakes made on the ground and instead blame all of the problems on misguided political decisions.

The problem with this tendency to withdraw from far-off and little understood problems is that it threatens to bring down not only the peace-keeping effort but all other forms of "civilian" field operations that the international community can conduct. Lack of political and monetary support from the United States can doom civilian verification missions to monitor human rights abuses, initiatives to train and rebuild administration of justice programs so that failed states can begin to restore confidence in the institutions, truth commissions and similar efforts to show victims of massive abuse that their plight is not ignored, and similar programs designed to embark on a genuine process of reconciliation and reconstruction. If the United States turns its back on these moderately priced but potentially highly successful ventures, even the fate of path-breaking efforts to establish a world-wide rule of law will suffer. The same pressures to disengage from conflict situations would be at work to undermine the two tribunals that have so far been created to deal with international crimes (former Yugoslavia and Rwanda). Their failure would breed more disaffection and hate between communities and encourage the killers to repeat their crimes, safe in the knowledge that there is no price to pay for them.

The world should certainly exercise restraint in the temptation to use military might to deal with complex emergencies. Yet, when the peace and security of mankind are threatened, there is clear international law that legitimizes the use of force. Similarly, the Genocide Convention makes it clear that the duty of the international community -- and individually of each State party to the Convention -- is to prevent and punish this crime.

Therefore, at least when it comes to genocide, the international community must be ready to use force as a last resort to protect the lives of vulnerable and unprotected victims. This option must remain in the arsenal of the world leadership, to be used judiciously but firmly if need be. It is even more important for the United Nations and for countries that play a leadership role in world affairs to create and display an array of measures short of military intervention so that the latter is truly a measure of last resort.

CEREHRA "CONCERNED" OVER THE CLOSURE OF HORNAFRIK KISMAYU

2008-12-16T00:51:00.000-08:00

CEREHRA's stand on the freedom of press is well known to the Somali media members in the Mandera tri-angle.

We are shocked to learn that the Islamic authorities in Kismayo had closed down the Kismayo branch of Horn Afrik Radio.

We are calling upon the authorities that had ordered for the closure of the Radio Station and the only one in Kismayo city.

CENTER FOR RECONCILIATION & HUMAN RIGHTS ADVOCACY

2008-12-06T00:07:00.000-08:00

CEREHRA is a Reconciliation-oriented & Human Rights watch-dog organization that has been operating in the Mandera Triangle[1] from June, 2001.

During this turbulent period CEREHRA has been registering Human Rights abuses in its coverage area, while at the same time, pulling the strings, or directly initiating and executing numerous reconciliation gestures, techniques, and conferences throughout the area.

In this period, CEREHRA also carried out conflict prevention/managements on many occasions. Most -if not all- the registrations of the Human Rights abuses, have been so hazardous to undertake and perilous to publicize.Because of the precarious situation and scary environments,

CEREHRA’s HRT: (Human Rights Team) investigators, reporters, and incident-registrars, have most of the time been operating under-cover.Unlike the HRT, the CEREHRA’s Task-forces (TF) and Conflict Prevention Experts (CPE) have been reasonably vocal to prevent the disputes to off-set conflicts in their respective areas.

CEREHRA reports its findings to the public, perpetrators of human rights violations themselves, (through proper channels when possible and safe) International Human Rights Organizations, donors,[2] (when applicable) and the relevant regional/international bodies.[1] Gedo region of Somalia, NEP of Kenya, and Liban Region of Ethiopia

[2] In the rare cases where a humanitarian organization/worker is misusing the funds to commit an inhumane crime; by either commission or omission

SOMALIA: UN EXPERT COMPLETES HIS SECOND FIELD VISIT

2008-12-04T08:29:00.000-08:00

3 December 2008

The Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia, Dr. Shamsul Bari, issued the following statement on 2 December, the last day of his second field visit to the Horn of Africa and the Middle East:“SANA’A – During his second field mission, the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia,

Dr. Shamsul Bari, was not able to visit that country and its capital, Mogadishu, due to the security constraints, but focused on the neighbouring States to get a best picture of the situation in Somalia to update his report to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2009.From 22 November to 2 December, the Independent Expert travelled to Djibouti, Kenya -including a visit to the Dadaab Refugee Camp- and Yemen, where he visited the cities of Sana’a and Aden.

On Tuesday 2, in Sana’a-Republic of Yemen, Dr. Bari completed his Second Field Visit to the Horn of Africa and the Middle East.In Djibouti, the Independent Expert participated -from 22 to 26 November- in the preparatory conference on Justice and Reconciliation organized on 22 and 23 November by the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of the United Nations Political Office (UNPOS) for Somalia with the expertise of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). There, he met with members of the High Level Committee from both the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS) as well as members of Somali Civil Society.

Dr Bari met on 25 November in Djibouti with the Somalian Prime Minister, His Excellency Nur Hassan Hussein, and the Somali vice Primer Minister, Abdi Salam, in addition to many other members of the Somalian Federal Government and Parliament (TFP), as well as members of ARS and the representatives of the regional organizations such as the African Union.

The Independent Expert attended and welcomed the Decisions of the High Level Committee concerning a power sharing agreement between the TFG and the ARS, in particular the establishment of a Unity Government and an enlarged inclusive Parliament. He also applauded the decisions of the two parties to establish a Commission of Inquiry (COI) and an International Tribunal with a view to address gross violations of human rights and the International Humanitarian Law to move forward on accountability and an end to impunity in Somalia.

Dr Bari reiterated to the Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein his concerns about the deteriorating situation of human rights in Somalia, especially the stoning to death of a young girl in Kismaayo on 29 October and the targeting and recent assassination of women human rights defenders, UN Staff and Journalists.

The Prime Minister stressed his own condemnation of the stoning case and renewed his commitment to further improve the human rights situation in Somalia with the operationalization of the enlargement of the Parliament and the establishment of the Government of Unity.In Kenya, Dr. Shamsul Bari visited the Dadaab Refugee Camp on 27 October and talked to a number of new arrivals and heard very painful stories about the desperate situation of refugees who have been coming to Kenya in larger numbers in recent months.

The latter expressed their wish to be involved in the Djibouti peace process. They also emphasized the need to provide education to young people. In Yemen, the Independent Expert met in Sana’a on 29 October with H.E Dr. Ali Muthana Hassan, the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and H.E Ali Saleh Taiseer, the Deputy Minister of Human Rights, on 1st December.

The Yemeni Government reiterated its commitment to host the Somali refugees and others as best as they could and expressed in the meantime the need for further support from the international community in view of the increasing number of refugees estimated at 700.000 persons and the limited resources of the host country.

Dr. Bari visited on 30 November the town of Aden and talked to new arrivals in Al Basateen District which is populated of Somalis or mixed Somali-Yemeni population. The stories that the Independent Expert heard about the traumatizing experience of refugees crossing the Gulf of Aden, in particular the number of dead in the sea drowning convinced him about the need for urgent and coordinated action from the international community. Dr. Bari was saddened that despite the dangers and the large number of lives lost at sea, the new arrivals and the elders repeatedly stated that they have no alternative but to continue to flee their country to save their lives, as the conditions in Somalia were getting worse.

The Independent Expert would like to express his gratitude to the Yemeni and Kenyan Governments for their commitment and generosity to hosting large number of Somali refugees and urged the international community to take appropriate measures on the various aspects on the alarming situation of human rights of Somali people in and outside Somalia.

He intends to make specific recommendations on the situation at the March Session of the Human Rights Council.Dr. Shamsul Bari congratulated the Government of Djibouti and the SRSG of UNPOS for their determination to move forward on the peace process and called upon all the parties to the conflict to abide by their international human rights and humanitarian obligations and to join in an inclusive manner the Djibouti Agreement”.

For further details on the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Situation of Human Rights in Somalia and UN human rights information on Somalia, please visit the website:http://www.ohchr.org/EN/countries/AfricaRegion/Pages/SOIndex.aspx

CEREHRA JOINS THE WORLD IN THE AIDS DAY & AWARENESS

2008-11-30T22:20:00.000-08:00

The AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection is one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history with over 25 million people killed by the disease since it was first recognized in 1981.

Despite recent, improved access to treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS pandemic continues to claim several million lives each year.

Globally, according to UNAIDS and WHO estimates, around 39.5 million adults and children are living with HIV and approximately 4.3 million became newly infected with HIV in 2006 alone. World AIDS Day, observed on December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic and how it can be stopped.

CEREHRA joins the like-minded international and national organizations in their quest and call for AIDS-FREE world.

In this regard CEREHRA will raise awareness in the AIDS epidemic and HIV menace among the Somali speaking populatuons in which CEREHRA operates.

CEREHRA CONDEMNS THE BOMBING IN BULAHAWA; READIES ITSELF TO JOIN THE UGAS IN A PEACE TRAVEL

2008-11-27T00:55:00.000-08:00

CEREHRA condemns the bombing attacks in Bulahawa District of Gedo Region of Somalia. The attacks had killed two community elders and one militia officer, and also wounded at-least eight civilians including a child.

CEREHRA welcomes the peace travel of Ugaas (paramount cheif) of Marehan, Ugaas Omar Ugaas Hirsi, who has now arrived at Garbaharrey district of Gedo Region Somalia.

The Ugas - highly regarded and respected by all- plans to travel to Dawo area in order to help lower the high tensions and anexiety among the tribesmen there created by the recent bombing attacks in Bulahawa district in Dawo area, Gedo region.

CEREHRA will join that peace travel which is of high concern to solve the problems related to that attacks and will also facilitate the possible conferences and under-tree meetings that the Ugas will conduct.

CEREHRA FIELD CO-ORDINATOR Garbaharrey, Somalia.

CAREHRA INTENDS TO CARRY ON PEACE CARAVAN TOGETHER WITH PARTNERS

2008-11-21T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Center for Reconciliation and Human Rights Advocacy intends to carry out a peace Caravan together with other partners in Gedo region of Southern Somalia.

The Executive Director of CEREHRA, Mr. Gurhan said: "We're doing this against all odds, against everything that you know is wrong here in this region."

The Norwegian Church Aid used to conduct this type of Caravans but CEREHRA mambers used to contribute to the Caravan Activities on a personal basis.

If this goes through, it will be the first time CEREHRA had undertaken a peace caravan in its seven years of its history.

CEREHRA RAISED QUESTIONS OVER THE STONED WOMAN IN KISMAYO

2008-10-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

The Center for Reconciliation & Human Rights Advocacy is so concerned and remorseful over the stoning death of the Somali woman in Kismayo city of Somalia.

"No one in Kismayu or elsewhere in Somalia has any right to stone any woman to death." says the official statement from the office of CEREHRA in Luuq district of Gedo region.

The father of the victim said to the VOA that she was born in 1994 which makes her only twenty four years.

CEREHRA went further in its Somali language statement distributed in leaflets and emails; and asked about the condition of the condemned poor woman; the names and titles of the "judges" that handed down the harsh verdict, and the names and occupations of the prosecuting witnesses.

CEREHRA CONDEMNS THE SHELLING OF MOGADISHU

2008-09-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

Cerehra has today accused the AU forces in Mogadishu of indiscriminately shelling a city of millions.

"AlShebab were very bad and these guys are not any better" said the statement.

PLEASE READ

CEREHRA URGES THE GEDOANS TO USE LOGIC AND NOT EMOTION

2008-09-16T15:19:00.000-07:00

CEREHRA has today called upon the elders and intellectuals of Gedo region to be wary of anything that can cause a blood-shed in the now-peaceful Gedo Region.

Speaking in Luuq, Halwa Garaad Ali said that "Gedo does not want any more fight, fleeing, and war wounds." She said "we were enjoying in such a calm period and now we do not want any fighting and militia organizing."

CEREHRA IN TALKS WITH AFSC

2008-08-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

The Center is in talks with the afcs to see the possibility of a funding of the Somali Poetry as Tools of Reconciliation.

Rahma Rahman

HUMAN RIGHTS: DEFINED

2008-08-12T08:41:00.000-07:00

Human rights refers to the concept of human beings as having universal rights, or status, regardless of legal jurisdiction, and likewise other localizing factors, such as ethnicity and nationality. Philosophically, human rights can be based on social contract theories, conceptions of natural rights, or a combination thereof.

CEREHRA CONDEMNS THE "INHUMANE AND BARBARIC ACT" IN MOGADISHU; CALLS ON THE TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO SPEAK UP

2008-08-04T01:26:00.000-07:00

CEREHRA has today condemned what it had called "the most barbaric and inhumane act in Somalia's history."

"The deed of planting a land-mine in a trash to heniously execute pregnant and lactating old and middle-aged women, who were out there to put food on their loved ones' tables, or in other words, earning a living is only Satan's" said the statement read out at the T street in Luuq where many people gathered to listen to the BBC Somali service.

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CEREHRA INTENDS TO USE THE SOMALI ORAL POETRY AS TOOLS OF RECONCILIATION AMONG THE PEOPLES IN GEDO REGION

2008-07-22T06:08:00.000-07:00

The Center for Reconciliation & Human Rights Advocacy (CEREHRA) wants to use the Somali oral poetry for the healing the scars that the civil war has left and promoting reconciliation, tollerance, and peace-ful coexistence among the peoples of Gedo region and the rest of the triangle.

CEREHRA is said to aim at utilizing the skill and experience of Ahmed Farah Ali "Idaajaa" to promote peaceful coexistence in the triangle.

Rahma Rahman, the acting Executive director had earlier this week suggested that " a proper and close consideration is being given to the Somali traditionaL oral poetry to promote the good coexistence and love among the brothers and sisters."

UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS: INTRODUCTION (TIG)

2008-07-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Sixty years ago, nations of the world joined together in recognizing that all peoples, in all nations, are free and equal regardless of race, religion, economic status, age, gender or other personal characteristics. Through the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, the United Nations brought into being the first international document recognizing human rights as the foundation of peace, justice and freedom in the world.

The Universal Declaration outlines 30 basic rights essential for all human beings to achieve their full potential and to live a life free of fear and want. It was a unique approach that developed from the world saying 'never again' to the horrific events of World War Two, a war that brought a scale of atrocity never previously witnessed. The global death count is estimated to have been more than 50 million. War crimes were widespread: from the infamous Holocaust in which Nazi Germany sought to eliminate 'undesirables' such as Jews, Poles, Slavs, Roma, Sinti, the mentally and physically disabled, homosexuals and other persons, to the use of sex slaves, otherwise known as 'comfort women', by Japanese soldiers. Labour camps were used throughout the world and, disturbingly, World War Two brought the first testing of biological warfare by Japan and the use of atomic bombs in Nagasaki and Hiroshima by the United States of America. Read more...:

http://www.takingitglobal.org/themes/udhr60/?ec=181,281933

INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED DAYS (TIG)

2008-07-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

February 21 - International Mother Language Day
March 8 - International Women's Day
April 7 - World Health Day
April 22 - Earth Day
May 3 - World Press Freedom Day
May 10 - World Fair Trade Day
May 15 - International Day of Families
May 17 - World Information Society Day
May 21 - World Day of Cultural Diversity for Dialogue...
May 22 - International Day for Biological Diversity
May 31 - World No Tobacco Day
June 1 - International Children's Day
June 4 - International Day of Innocent Children Victims...
June 5 - World Environment Day
June 12 - World Day Against Child Labour
June 14 - World Blood Donor Day
June 17 - World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
June 20 - World Refugee Day
June 21 - World Music Day
June 26 - International Day against Drug Abuse and...
June 26 - International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
July 11 - World Population Day
August 9 - International Day of the World’s Indigenous...
August 12 - International Youth Day
August 23 - International Day for the Remembrance of the...
September 8 - International Literacy Day
September 16 - International Day for the Preservation of the...
September 21 - International Day of Peace
September 22 - World Car Free Day
September 26 - European Day of Languages
September 27 - World Tourism Day
October 1 - World Vegetarian Day
October 1 - International Day of Older Persons
October 5 - World Teacher's Day
October 6 - World Habitat Day
October 10 - World Mental Health Day
October 16 - World Food Day
October 17 - International Day for the Eradication of Poverty
October 24 - United Nations Day
November 9 - World Inventor's Day
November 16 - International Day for Tolerance
November 17 - International Students' Day
November 20 - Universal Children's Day
November 25 - International Day for the Elimination of...
December 1 - World AIDS Day
December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery
December 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons
December 5 - International Volunteer Day for Economic and...
December 10 - Human Rights Day
December 18 - International Migrant's Day

UNITED NATIONS CONCERNED OVER RAPID DETERIORATION OF SECURITY IN SOMALIA (POSTED ON CEREHRA.BLOGSPOT.COM)

2008-07-16T07:07:00.000-07:00

The UN’s Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Mark Bowden, today expressed grave concern over the rapidly deteriorating security situation for humanitarian workers in that country. He also expressed deep concern over the unacceptable level of violence against Somali civilians. Recent killings have brought the number of aid-related workers killed in Somalia this year to 19. Bowden said it is intolerable that humanitarian workers striving to save lives in one of the most difficult environments in the world are being targeted and killed.

The United Nations, for its part, is urgently taking measures to ensure the protection of its staff in Somalia while at the same time allowing them to carry on with their vital humanitarian work.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) reports that gunmen in Somalia have killed an agent for a WFP-contracted transport company. He was the fifth such staff member to be killed in Somalia this year. WFP condemns the shootings, but says it is committed to operating in Somalia, adding that more than two million people need aid in that country because of drought and high food prices.

CEREHRA BRINGS THE GAADSAN AND MOALLIM WEYNE ELDERS TOGETHER IN LUUQ

2008-07-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

The CEREHRA's office in Luuq has brought together the elders from the clans of Gaadsan and Moallim-weyne to finalize their agreement in the early summer.

Dahir Hassan of CEREHRA who was the lead-mediator of the Gaadsan v Moallim-Weyne negotiations in Gedo region has today said: "We have no more to say at this juncture in time, because we know we will have a lot to explain to you and the media come Friday."

CEREHRA -ONCE AGAIN- CALLS FOR POST-ELECTION, INCLUSIVE RECONCILIATIONS AMONG THE SOMALI TRIBES IN GEDO REGION

2008-07-14T06:52:00.001-07:00

Guided by its CP (cherished principles) of negotiation, reconciliation, reality, respect, and harmony, CEREHRA has today wrote to the regional stake-holders of Gedo region imploring them to initiate a regionwide, post-election, and all-inclusive reconciliation conference for inhabiting clans and prevailing political and religious organizations in the region.

"This will be a golden opportunity to seize now that Gedo region has only one administration that is relatively representive of the men of all clans." said the director of reconciliations and conflict management in Bulla Hawa of Gedo region.

The Director, has insinuated that CEREHRA is not happy with the male-dominated district councils and womanless regional council that had been established two months ago.

In a completely another arena, the Center has urged the pro-Shabab militia that's occupied Bardera and Burdubo districts to restrain anything that can create an unfortunate armed inter-clan or inter-sect confrontations similar to those in late 1990s.

"I don't think it makes any sense that the youth start demanding people here to wide open their mouths to make sure the people are not consuming Kat or tobacco for this matter." said a CEREHRA activist in Bardera.

The center also praised the Bardera district council and the mayor of the city for being calm and composed at the arrival of the Shebab militia in their turf. The Center further praised the Bardera Traditional Elders (Guurti) and their chairman for what they termed as "all the endeavor."

"The Guurti committee in Bardera are the back-bone of peace here in Bardera" said the Somali letter that was written in Somali "and all of us must be grateful to them. They are the main cause behind the tranquility that the people of this district enjoyed all the time while the rest of Gedo was burning in 1990s" it concluded.

CEREHRA CONDEMNS THE KILLING OF SOMALI HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS IN AND AROUND MOGADISHU

2008-07-13T00:33:00.000-07:00

CEREHRA condemns the killing of Mohamed Mohamud Qeyre, among other Humanitarian Aid Workers in Somalia. He was the deputy director of the group Daryeel Bulasho Guud (DBG), funded by a German company and affiliated with the group Bread for the World.

Rahma Rahman, the Executive Director of CEREHRA said in Nairobi "It is such a curse that Somalis are shooting for the jugular veins of their best and most kind."

REMEMBERING YAHYA ALI: (c) HIIRAAN.COM

2008-07-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Mogadishu, Somalia (HOL) - Last night marked the third anniversary of the late Somalia peace activist Abdulkadir Yahya Sheik Ali who was one of the senior managers of the Centre for Research and Development (CRD) in Somalia, a non-government organization that helps Somali clans to settle their differences through negotiations and peaceful settlements.

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CEREHRA INTENDS TO USE THE SOMALI ORAL POETRY AS TOOLS OF RECONCILIATION AMONG THE PEOPLES IN THE TRI-ANGLE

2008-07-10T04:37:00.000-07:00

The Center for Reconciliation & Human Rights Advocacy (CEREHRA) wants to use the Somali oral poetry for the healing the scars that the civil war has left and promoting reconciliation, tollerance, and peace-ful coexistence among the peoples of Gedo region and the rest of the triangle.

Rahma Rahman, the acting Executive director had earlier this week suggested that " a proper and close consideration is being given to the Somali traditionaL oral poetry to promote the good coexistence and love among the brothers and sisters."

CEREHRA REGRETS THE DEATH OF CHILDREN CAUSED BY EXPLOSIONS IN ELWAK OF GEDO REGION

2008-07-06T01:30:00.000-07:00

CEREHRA's top official in Nairobi has yesterday voiced her shock to learn of the death of two Somali children near to Elwak district. The accidental death to the two chilren was caused by the explosion of an old military hard-ware.

We are sending our sympathies to the parents; and we call upon the people that are elected officials get on the situation and do whatever they can to prevent the likes of this accident from happening again.

CEREHRA CONVENES A CONFERENCE FOR BARDERA COUNCIL OF ELDERS OVER THE GRAZING IN DOOY (DINSOR) AREA

2008-07-05T04:46:00.000-07:00

Today, CEREHRA has convened a conference for the Guurti(the most effective traditional body in the entire Gedo region) in Bardera over the grazing of Dooy area in and around Dinsor district of Bay region.

The Marehan nomads have moved with their cattle and camel to the Dinsor area where there is a psture better than Bardera area.

This meeting was about how to prevent conflicts between the youth (camel-boys)of the two communities during the first week of settling in the new pasture-land.

Hussein Ali Bihi, the chairman of the Bardera Elders' Council has suggested that a team of the elders from the two communities is sent to Dinsor area, and the rest of the Guurti voted the matter in favor. The deputy chairman of the Guurti, Ahmed Hassanow of Rahawein was put at the helm of the team.

"We are so pleased with the outcome" said Abdisamed Ali Ahmed who organized the meeting. CEREHRA had also thanked Dahabshil Money Transfer for facilitating the conference: paying for the tea and the hall.