MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

17.6.2008

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Marios Matsakis, Marielle De Sarnez, Johan Van Hecke
on behalf of the ALDE Group
on Routine killing of civilians in Somalia

B6‑0318/2008

European Parliament resolution on Routine killing of civilians in Somalia

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Somalia,

- having regard to the report of the Secretary-General of UN on children and armed conflict in Somalia of 30 May 2008,

- having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

• A.whereas the number of grave human rights violations against children in Somalia, from acts of murder and rape to the recruitment of child soldiers to the denial of humanitarian access to those in need, have all increased in the past year, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said in a recent report to the Security Council,
• B.whereas children have been the victims of armed violence in many regions in Somalia,
• C.whereas risk and danger are present in every single day of their journalists' lives, and as the hatred and retribution grow in Somalia, they know that anything they say could be used against them,
• D.whereas Nasteh Dahir, who worked for the BBC in the Somali coastal city of Kismayo, was killed in June 2008,
• E.whereas the perpetrators of most of the killings of individual journalists remain unknown,
• F.whereas a prominent Somali aid worker was shot dead in the capital, Mogadishu, just days after a ceasefire agreement was signed,
• G.eu égard à l'accord de paix conclu, lundi 9 juin 2008 à Djibouti, sous l'égide des Nations unies, entre le gouvernement intérimaire de la Somalie et une partie de l'opposition qui prévoit le déploiement d'ici trois mois d'"une force internationale de stabilisation" composée de "pays amis" de la Somalie,

1.  Strongly condemns the serious violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law committed by all parties to the conflict in Somalia and calls on the transitional Federal Government to improve the security sector and ensure the rule law in Somalia after the conclusion of the Djibouti Agreement;

2.  Recalls that the international community and all parties to the present conflict have a responsibility to protect civilians;

3.  Stresses the responsibility of the international communities and all parties to the present conflict to protect civilians, to allow the delivery of aid and to respect humanitarian space and the safety of humanitarian workers;

4.  Calls for investigations into all incidents of grave child rights violations and also urges the TFG to end the detention of children;

5.  Urges the transitional Federal Government to demobilize unconditionally all children who participate in any capacity in its armed forces;

6.  Calls on the transitional Federal Government and other appropriate authorities in Somalia to redress the prevailing culture of impunity, to launch investigations in all incidents of grave child violations and to bring the perpetrators to justice;

7.  Urges the transitional Federal Government, with the necessary assistance from the international community, to control the proliferation of small arms, as their ready availability renders children more vulnerable to grave violations and other crimes;

8.  Urges remnants of UIC forces, clan militias and all remaining armed groups to demobilize unconditionally all children currently participating in their forces;

9.  Stresses, in particular, the urgent need for journalists to be protected and condemns the Somali Government's failure to investigate the killing of journalists;

10.  Welcomes the progress that has been made in the political process in Somalia since the beginning of the year and reaffirms its full support to the reconciliation strategy by Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein that has made it possible to start a dialogue with all Somali parties;

11.  Welcomes the Somali parties' engagement to terminate all acts of armed confrontation for a period of 90 days and to undertake all necessary measures to ensure unhindered humanitarian access and assistance to affected populations;

12.  Notes the request to the United Nations, of both parties to the Agreement, to authorize and deploy an international stabilization force;

13.  Calls for immediate implementation of the Djibouti Agreement and calls on all Somali groups and individuals to adhere to this Agreement and continue to build the momentum for peace in Somalia;

14.  Commends the leadership of both parties for taking this important step towards a durable political settlement for Somalia;

15.  Calls on the international community to provide strong support for the effective implementation of the Djibouti Agreement;

16.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Secretaries-General of the African Union, the UN and IGAD, the President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, the Government of Ethiopia and the Pan-African Parliament.