STATEMENT BY LIKEMINDED SOMALI CIVIL SOCIETY
CONSULTATIVE PLATFORM ON THE STATUS OF PEACE
AND STATE-BUILDING IN SOMALIA
PREAMBLE
WE, the undersigned members of the Somali Civil Society, comprising
representatives of key Somali Civil Society umbrella networks from all the regions of
Somalia and the Somali Diaspora; brought together by the Somali Women Agenda,
facilitated by IIDA Women’s Development Organization and the Centre for Research
and Dialogue;
HAVING met in Mogadishu, Somalia for the last two weeks of July 2015.
HAVING received with appreciation and unanimously adopted the Communiqué of
the Somali women’s SWA review forum for the European Union supported Project
‘Setting the Pace for Good Governance’ held in Mogadishu in July 2015;
RECALLING our constructive role as Civil Society throughout the difficult periods
Somalia has gone through since State collapse in 1990;
RECALLING the Civil Society statement titled ‘THE MISSING VOICES’ issued following a
crisis meeting of Civil Society held between the 7th and 8th September 2011 on ending
the transition in Somalia;
FURTHER recalling the statement by Civil Society issued in February 2012 titled ‘THE
SOMALI CIVIL SOCIETY OPTION PAPER: a Common Voice for Peace and Development’;
NOTING that since the issuance of the ‘THE MISSING VOICES’ and ‘THE SOMALI CIVIL
SOCIETY OPTION PAPER: a Common Voice for Peace and Development’ the Civil Society in
Somalia has largely remained fractious and /or un-coordinated in the ongoing peace
and state building;
CONCERNED that overall, the progress towards realization of a stable Somali
Nation-State has been painfully slow;
FURTHER concerned that most of the gains realized in the transition process for
significant segments of Somali society have largely been ignored and not given
effect;
ACKNOWLEDGING that tremendous progress has so far been made towards a
stable Nation-State; and
DETERMINED to work together as Civil Society in securing the progress so far made
and giving the much needed push and impetus towards resolving the ‘Somali
Question’ and bringing about ‘Somali Settlement’:
NOW unanimously adopt this ‘Likeminded Somali Civil Society Declaration and Action
Platform for Securing and Enhancing the Gains of State Building of the Federal Republic of
Somalia’.
DECLARATIONS/OBSERVATIONS
THAT the Likeminded Civil Society Consultative Platform prioritize Constitution
Review; Human Rights; 2016 Election and beyond and Civil Society
Strengthening as core agenda issues to inform its engagements, dialogue and
collaboration with other stakeholders in the ongoing Somalia State-Building
process;
THAT the Likeminded Civil Society Consultative Platform associates itself fully
with the contents of the Communiqué issued by the eminent Somali Women Civil
Society leaders under the Somali Women Agenda (SWA) following their
consultative review meeting held in Mogadishu in the month of July 2015;
THAT with regards to the timetable for general elections under Somalia Vision
2016; the one-person-one-vote elections be held as scheduled and that all
stakeholders commit themselves to this goal and work towards it on the basis of
goodwill.
THAT the Consultative Platform condemns in the strongest terms possible the
emerging culture of Human Rights violations targeting women, youth, children,
persons with special needs, the marginalized and other vulnerable groups;
especially the Internally Displaced Persons, Somali emigrants and Somalis in
Refugee Camps outside the country.
THAT the members of the Likeminded Civil Society Consultative Platform
recommit itself to unity of purpose and collaboration on the four key identified
issues in furthering its watchdog role.
THAT participation by the people of Somalia at all stages and levels in processes
towards Peace and State-Building and security are a non-negotiable precondition. The Platform has noted with great concern, the existence of a
deliberate scheme to exclude the Somali people in major decisions affecting
them.
THAT the Consultative Platform notes with deep concern a trend in the Peace
and State-Building process where corruption has taken centre-stage and is being
perpetrated by a cross section of actors, especially those involved in the security
and humanitarian assistance programs.
THAT mandatory massive awareness-raising program is a necessary precondition for a stable Somalia.
THAT strong and sustainable independent institutions and offices are important
components of Peace and State-Building processes in Somalia.
THAT the absence of a structured legal framework for Somali Civil Society
engagements with the other stakeholders is creating confusion and undermining
efforts towards peace and stability and normalcy in Somalia.
THAT the ongoing State-Building process is taking place in an environment where
there is no respectable dispute resolution mechanism to guarantee access to
justice, protection and enforcement of Human Rights.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
These Guiding Principles are envisaged as binding and committing all stakeholders
in peace and state building in Somalia. The Consultative Platform undertakes to
ensure that these Guiding Principles are adopted and enforced.
Human Rights Approach to ensure respect for the dignity of the Somali people and upholding and protection of Human
Rights.
Effective citizen participation based on ‘NOTHING ABOUT SOMALIA WITHOUT
SOMALI PEOPLES’ and Human Rights Approaches.
Transparency and accountability by all the actors in the process is mandatory
without any exception.
Awareness creation and communication to allow the Somali people to
participate effectively from the point of knowledge and to make informed choices
at every stage.
Inclusion and consultation of all segments of Somali society from across the
board in the processes in compliance with the requirements of Article 3 (4) of The
Federal Republic of Somalia Provisional Constitution.
i.
Mutual recognition of the importance of respect, confidence building, the
engendering of trust and consensus throughout the processes by all
stakeholders and interested parties.
Constitutionality, legality and legitimacy throughout the processes;
Facilitative peaceful and safe environment to ensure that development, service
provision and national natural resource management is not disrupted.
Collaboration. There must be synergy building, networking and coordination.
CONSENSUS PILLARS
These are the identified and prioritized key consensus building critical areas
necessary in the next phase of Somali State-Building.
Human Rights that prioritizes Universal Periodic Review Reports (UPR),
domesticate and implement all relevant international conventions and formulation
and adoption of relevant policies.
Constitutional Review through amendments that should be prioritized in order to
comply with the Guiding Principle of Constitutionality, Legality and Legitimacy.
Facilitative legislation to anchor the remaining phases of Somali State Building
processes in a consensus law to meet the requirements of legality and the Rule of
Law.
Strengthening of Civil Society through a clear policy framework for constructive
CSOs engagement with Government and International Community.
INSTITUTIONAL IMPLEMENTATION FRAMEWORK FOR THE DECLARATION
AND ACTION PLATFORM (DAP)
In order to implement and translate this Declaration and Action Platform into reality
we have adopted the Likeminded Civil Society Advisory Council as the most suitable
vehicle to use given the Somali unique circumstances. The structure will have the
following organs: The Somali Civil Society Trustee that will be the highest organ and comprises
of respected eminent Somali women and men with sufficient moral authority.
Somali CSO Technical Committee responsible for day-to-day management of
CSOs affairs.
The Somali CSOs Assembly that will comprise of all accredited CSOs to the
structure.
READ ON BEHALF OF THE FOLLOWING LIKEMINDED CSO’S, NETWORKS
AND MOVEMENTS.
SOMALI WOMEN AGENDA ( SWA)
IIDA WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION ( IIDA)
CENTER FOR RESEARCH AND DIALOGUE ( CRD)
PUNTLAND NON STATE ACTORS (PUNSA)
SOMALI CIVIL SOCIETY COALITION ( SCSC)
SAREDO RELIF FOUNDATION (SRF)
COGWO
SOYDEN
CIVIL SOCIETY IN ACTION (CSA)
SOMALI NATIONAL DISABILITY COUNCIL
SOMALI WOMEN DISABILITY ASSOCIATION (SOWDA)
AFRICAN CARE
DELPHIA
SOMALI WOMEN ENTREPRENEUR ASSOCIATION ( SWEA)
PEACE & HUMAN RIGHTS NETWORK (PHRN)
PUNTLAND MINORITY WOMEN DEVELOPMENT ORGANITATION ( PMWDO)
BBWO
KALSAN
HINNA
DHIJRO
SOMAWADO
AYAAN DHALAD
DARYEEL
MANDHEERE
WAMO
SOMALI WOMEN SOLIDARITY ORGANIZATION ( SWSO)
SHAYDO
LOWER SHABELLE WOMEN FARMERS ASSOCIATION
SOMALI FAMILY CHILD CARE ORGANIZATION ( SFCC)
ISRAAC
OGAAL
BENADIR DEVELOPMENT NETWORK
HORSEED
FEMAL PRAMEDICAL ASSOCIATION (FEPMA)
BRADO
SOMALI WOMEN DIASPORA NETWORK
ABWO
SWDO/AFRICAN
NDC
CENTRE FOR PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS (CPHR) BAKOOL
WAWA
TAWAKAL