Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations have been made to the authorities in Somalia on the protection of (a) the freedoms of association and religion and (b) other fundamental freedoms in that country.

​Last year the UK attended the Somalia Partnership Forum where the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) strengthened its commitment to support the protection of human rights. Progress in implementing these commitments, in particular an independent National Human Rights Commission, forms a regular part of our dialogue with the FGS. The UK also provides a range of assistance that directly support human rights in Somalia such as working with Somali Security Forces to help provide protection for all civilians in accordance with international human rights standards.

Ultimately, a stable and inclusive political settlement is the most important aspect to ensure that Somalia is able to protect human rights for all its citizens, and to end impunity for perpetrators of abuse. This is why the UK is playing a leading role in supporting Somalia in working towards an inclusive constitution and to deliver one-person one-vote elections in 2021.