Human rights - violations

Question 1

Somalia - actors

Answer 1

Al-Shaabab
- in 2007 began incursions into the south and centre of Somalia, kidnapping children, seeking to impose Sharia law; as of 2010 80% of the rebels were children

Sudan People’s Liberation Army
- 2,500-5,000 child soldiers

Sudan Federal Transitional Government
- installed in 2004, 20% of all troops are children according to Mogadishu Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre, denied use

Question 2

Somalia - war

Answer 2

• since 1991
• 2.4 million displaced
• 300,000-500,000 killed
• State must protect the child from all forms of physical or mental violence according to 1989 Convention on right of the child

Question 3

Somalia - UN response

Answer 3

Peacekeeping

• supported 2007 AU Mission to Somalia
• victories include taking Mogadishu in August 2011, driving fighters out of centre and south
• increased to 18,000 in Feb 2012

UNICEF

• in 2011 negotiated release of 120 child soldiers, total 655
• run youth programs for 700 children since 2011

Sanctions

• July 29, 2011, extended sanctions to include those who used child soldiers
• February 2012 ban on sale of Somalia charcoal overseas (2011, brought $25 million in profit to Al-Shaabab)
• ineffective, AMISOM says al-Shaabab continues to export
• local economies suffer, e.g. Kismayo, 90% of economy is charcoal, people are suffering

Talks
- 3 July 2013 TFG signed an Action Plan to end use of child soldiers, UN goal to eliminate by 2016

Question 4

Somalia - SPLA response

Answer 4

• claimed to demoblize 16,000 children between 2011-04, but continues to use them

Question 5

Somalia - effects of responses

Answer 5

• in the first quarter of 2013 the number of children abused, killed or used as soldiers halved from the last quarter, said June 3 UN report

Question 6

Venezuelan prisons - overcrowding

Answer 6

• at 365% capacity according to Venzuelan Prison Observer
• 44,452 inmates
• since 1995, 5,000 killed
• only 28% have been sentenced