legal status, expired in July 2013. About Principle of Equality had just one employee: 12,000 of the 25,671 “erased” had had their the Advocate himself. status restored by this date. In December Throughout the year approximately 250 2013, legislation was adopted creating a Roma living in the Škocjan-Dobruška vas compensation scheme for those whose settlement remained at risk of forced eviction. status had been regulated. The scheme The settlement, part of which was designated provided €50 for each month spent without for the development of an industrial zone in legal status. 2013, had been home to the Roma families On 12 March 2014 the European Court for many years. Following public pressure of Human Rights, in Kurić and Others and the intervention of the national authorities v. Slovenia, ordered Slovenia to pay the and Roma civil society, the municipality applicants between €30,000 and €70,000 for agreed in August 2014 to relocate two Roma pecuniary damages. The judgment followed families at imminent risk of forced eviction as a ruling by the Grand Chamber in 2012, development work commenced. However, no which established that the right to respect for further plans were consulted with residents private and family life, the right to effective who remained at risk of losing their homes. legal remedy and the right to be free from discrimination had been violated, and ordered FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION the payment of non-pecuniary damages also. The trial of journalist Anuška Delić for These sums were far greater than the sums publishing classified information began in payable to recipients of compensation under October and was ongoing by the end of the the December 2013 scheme. year. The charges related to articles she published alleging links between members of DISCRIMINATION - ROMA the Slovenian Democratic Party and the far- Despite a number of initiatives in recent years right group Blood and Honour. The Slovenian to improve the situation of the approximately Intelligence and Security Agency (SOVA) 10,000 Roma in Slovenia, the majority claimed subsequently that some of the continued to face discrimination and social information in her reports had been leaked exclusion. Most lived in isolated, segregated from its files. The Slovenian criminal code settlements, lacking security of tenure and does not provide for a public interest defence. access to basic services such as water, electricity, sanitation and public transport. Widespread discrimination prevented Roma families from buying or renting housing outside of mainly Roma-populated areas, and they continued to face obstacles, including prejudice, in accessing social Federal Republic of Somalia housing. Discrimination against Roma in the Head of state: labour market remained commonplace and Head of government: Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed unemployment levels among Roma were Head of Somaliland Republic: Ahmed Mohamed extremely high. Mahamoud Silyano State institutions created to combat and consider complaints of discrimination, such as the Human Rights Ombudsman and Armed conflict continued between pro- the Advocate of the Principle of Equality, government forces, the had weak mandates and remained poorly Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) and resourced. The office of the Advocate of the the Islamist armed group al-Shabaab in southern and central Somalia. Pro-

328 Amnesty International Report 2014/15 government forces continued an offensive Somalia’s humanitarian situation to take control of key towns. Over a hundred deteriorated rapidly due to the ongoing thousand civilians were killed, injured or conflict, drought and reduced humanitarian displaced by armed conflict and generalized access with conditions as bad or worse than violence during the year. All parties to before the 2011 famine. A s of September, a the conflict were responsible for serious bout 42% of the population were in crisis or violations of human rights and humanitarian needed assistance. law, including AMISOM. Armed groups Somalia faced political crisis, too. Prime continued to forcibly recruit people, Minister Saaid resigned including children, and to abduct, torture in December 2013 following a parliamentary and unlawfully kill people; rape and other vote of no confidence. In January a new, forms of sexual violence were widespread. larger C abinet was appointed consisting Aid agencies’ access remained constrained of 25 ministers, with two council members by fighting, insecurity and restrictions retained from the previous administration. imposed by parties to the conflict. In May, MPs called for President Mohamud Journalists and media workers were attacked to resign. In November, following clashes and harassed. One journalist was killed. between President Hassan and the incoming Perpetrators of serious human rights abuses Prime Minister, a proposal for a second continued to enjoy impunity. parliamentary vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister was put on hold due to BACKGROUND the possibility of violence between opposing The Somali Federal Government (SFG) members of parliament. Plans for revising and AMISOM remained in control of the and implementing the constitution and capital, . A joint offensive by the the proposed federalization plan remained Somali National Armed Forces (SNAF) and pending, leading to increases in clan-based AMISOM sought to flush out al-Shabaab conflict and abuses. operatives from areas of south and central In June 2013, the UN Assistance Mission Somalia with some success. However, in Somalia (UNSOM) was established, which al-Shabaab maintained control of much of included a human rights monitoring and south and central Somalia. Armed clashes reporting mandate. and al-Shabaab attacks against civilians In September, a US drone strike increased, particularly in contested areas. killed , the leader Increased abuses of international law were of al-Shabaab. Internal divisions within witnessed throughout the course of the al-Shabaab during 2013 had resulted in offensive, allegedly caused by all parties to scores of deaths and the execution of key the conflict. leaders of the movement, allowing Godane The partial lifting of the arms embargo to consolidate his power. A new leader and on Somalia in 2013 appeared to contribute known hardliner, ‘Abu Ubaidah’, was quickly to abuses against civilians into 2014. announced. Retaliatory attacks took place, In February, the UN Monitoring Group including a suicide attack a week after highlighted continuous violations of Somalia’s Godane’s death, which killed at least 12 arms embargoes, reporting the diversion of people, including four Americans. arms intended for use by non-government armed forces, including al-Shabaab. ABUSES BY ARMED GROUPS International support for government security Indiscriminate attacks forces, allied militias and AMISOM continued, Civilians continued to be killed and wounded despite lack of accountability for ongoing, indiscriminately in crossfire during armed serious human rights abuses. clashes; in suicide attacks and in attacks

Amnesty International Report 2014/15 329 involving improvised explosive devices (IEDs) Unlawful killings, extortion, arbitrary and grenades. 2014 saw an increase in such arrests and rape continued to be carried out attacks as well as on high profile targets. by government forces and aligned militia, Al-Shabaab retained the ability to stage lethal in part as a result of poor discipline and attacks in the most heavily guarded parts lack of command control. On 25 August, of Mogadishu, killing or injuring hundreds an SNAF soldier reportedly shot and killed of civilians. Two deadly attacks took place a minibus driver in Afar-Irdood area, Xamar at Villa Somalia during the year, following a Weyne District, after the driver refused to pay number of such attacks in 2013. In August, a extortion money. complex attack was carried out on a national security detention facility, killing two civilians. CHILD SOLDIERS At least 10 people were killed in an attack on Children continued to suffer grave abuses by parliament in May. Government and AMISOM all parties to the armed conflict. Al-Shabaab offensives led to increases in abuses by all continued to target children for recruitment parties to the conflict. Air strikes continued to and forced marriage, and attacked schools. be carried out. Government-affiliated militias were again Direct targeting of civilians accused of recruiting and using child soldiers. Civilians remained at risk of targeted attacks Implementation of the two action plans and killings in Mogadishu. During Ramadan signed by the government in 2012 to end in July, recorded assassination attempts and prevent the recruitment and use of child reached their highest level since al-Shabaab soldiers, as well as the killing and maiming lost control of most parts of Mogadishu in of children, was outstanding and children 2010. On 27 July, a businessman was shot remained in the armed forces. The Minister and killed by unknown armed men in his of Defence and Minister of National Security shop in Bakara market. On 23 September, a signed standard operating procedures for woman was shot and killed in Heliwa district. handling children formerly associated with She had worked as a cook for SNAF forces armed groups. in Mogadishu. The SFG had not ratified the Convention Al-Shabaab factions continued to torture on the Rights of the Child and its Optional and unlawfully kill people they accused Protocols by the end of the year, despite its of spying or not conforming to their strict commitments to ratify the conventions. interpretation of Islamic law. They killed people in public, including by stoning, and INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE, carried out amputations and floggings. They ASYLUM-SEEKERS AND REFUGEES continued to impose restrictive behavioural Over 1 million people in Somalia were in codes on women and men. On 27 September, crisis and an additional 2.1 million people a woman was allegedly stoned to death were in need of assistance. For the first in Barawe, a town in Lower Shabelle, time since the 2011 famine, food security on suspicion of marrying more than one began deteriorating rapidly. Insecurity and husband. She was reportedly buried up to fighting reportedly caused over 60% of new her neck and stoned to death by hooded men displacement in 2014. Trade routes were in front of a crowd. On 2 June, according heavily disrupted due to the SNAF and to reports, al-Shabaab executed three men AMISOM military offensives; al-Shabaab accused of being spies for the SFG and the blocked supply routes, causing major Kenyan and US governments. The men were disruption to the work of humanitarian executed by firing squad in a park in Barawe organizations trying to access towns. This in front of a gathering of several hundred led to sharp increases in food prices. These people.1

330 Amnesty International Report 2014/15 issues combined placed Somalia at significant Mohamoud and Shabelle newscaster Ahmed risk of sliding back into a state of emergency. Abdia Hassan were brought before the court In Mogadishu, tens of thousands of people on two charges relating to incitement to were forcibly evicted from government and disturbance of public order and to commit private property. Many of them moved to the offences. Both rejected the charges and outskirts of Mogadishu, including the Afgooye were released on bail, while Shabelle’s Editor corridor, where there was little security Mohamed Bashir Hashi and Mohamud provision or access to services. There were Mohamed Dahir were not brought to the reports of increases in rape and other forms hearing. In June, a restrictive media bill was of sexual violence against women and girls in submitted to Cabinet proposing to curtail these areas. An IDP policy framework drafted media rights. In September, the National in April was not adopted. Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) There were over 900,000 Somali refugees issued a ban on national media coverage of in the region, particularly in and all al-Shabaab activities. Al-Shabaab imposed . Plans by the Kenyan authorities to severe restrictions on media freedom and return continued despite serious banned the internet in areas under its control. human rights violations, including the Little progress was made in addressing forced return of 359 people and forcible impunity for the murder of journalists, despite encampment of thousands of others. Other a government taskforce established for that states hosting Somali asylum-seekers and purpose in 2012. People suspected of killing refugees, including some EU states, began journalists continued to enjoy impunity. Of attempts to return failed Somali asylum- more than twenty journalists murdered since seekers to Mogadishu on the grounds that 2005, only two prosecutions had resulted they no longer needed protection due to an in convictions by the end of the year. In apparent improvement in security there. March 2013, a military court convicted Adan Sheikh Abdi Sheikha Hussein for the FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION murder of Hassan Yusuf Absuge in 2012, and - JOURNALISTS sentenced him to death in a trial that did not Somali journalists and media workers meet due process standards. A firing squad continued to be attacked, harassed and executed Adan in August 2013. intimidated. On 21 June, Yusuf Ahmed Abukar was killed on his way to work when DEATH PENALTY a bomb attached to his car exploded. Yusuf Somalia continued to use the death penalty reported for the privately owned Mustaqbal despite its support for the 2012 UN General radio station, in Mogadishu and a - Assembly resolution on the moratorium of the based radio station, Ergo. The Prime Minister death penalty. Many executions were carried stated that the attack was being investigated, out by the military court, often involving however Amnesty International was not aware members of Somali armed opposition groups of any progress in the case by year’s end. such as al-Shabaab, government soldiers and Media freedom continued to be curtailed, people convicted of murder. journalists were arrested and media houses Executions were often carried out rapidly, closed down. In August, broadcasters after proceedings falling short of international Radio Shabelle and Sky FM were closed fair trial standards, while there was an down and 19 of their journalists and media apparent spike in executions throughout the workers arrested, including Abdimaalik Yusuf year. On 3 April, a man was executed by Mohamoud, the owner of Radio Shabelle, firing squad in Kismayo nine days after he and Mohamud Mohamed Dahir, the director allegedly murdered an elder. It was unclear of Sky FM. On 21 October, Abdimaalik Yusuf which, if any, court found had him guilty. On

Amnesty International Report 2014/15 331 30 July, Somalia’s military court sentenced nine provinces, but with a reduced national three men to death for alleged membership majority of 62.15%. A new political party, of al-Shabaab. Four days later, pictures were the Economic Freedom Fighters, gained circulated on twitter allegedly showing their 6.35% of the vote and with the established bodies. On 30 August, Somalia’s military opposition Democratic Alliance increased court found alleged al-Shabaab members Ali pressure on the ANC government in the Bashir Osman and Abdulahi Sharif Osman national parliament for greater transparency guilty of killing the journalist Timacade in and accountability. 2013 and sentenced them to death. The two Access to anti-retroviral treatment men were executed on 26 October by public for people living with HIV continued to firing squad. expand, with 2.5 million South Africans on treatment according to official figures at July 2014. As a result, life expectancy in South 1. Forced returns to south and central Somalia, including to al-Shabaab Africa increased. areas: A blatant violation of international law (AFR 52/005/2014) www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/AFR52/005/2014/en EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE The Marikana Commission of Inquiry into the fatal police shootings of 34 striking platinum mine workers at Marikana in August 2012 ended its public hearings on 14 November. SOUTH AFRICA Closing arguments were heard from legal parties representing the police, mining Republic of South Africa unions, LONMIN plc, the families of the 34 Head of state and government: Jacob G. Zuma striking mine workers killed by police and the families of seven other people - three non-striking workers, two police officers Judicial commissions of inquiry highlighted and two LONMIN security guards - who police use of excessive force, including were killed during the developing conflict. unlawful killings, and failures in delivery The Commissioners were due to report of services to poor communities. Incidents their conclusions and recommendations to of property destruction and displacement President Zuma in 2015. of refugees and asylum-seekers continued There were indications that the police to occur. Access to treatment for people attempted to conceal and destroy evidence living with HIV continued to expand and and to fabricate a version of events intended HIV treatment interventions for pregnant to mislead the official inquiry from the start. women contributed to a decline in maternal A crucial meeting held by police officials on deaths. However, key discriminatory the evening of 15 August 2012 endorsed barriers continued to delay women and the decision to forcibly disarm, disperse and girls' access to antenatal care. Progress was arrest the striking mine workers by the end made in addressing hate crimes based on of the following day. Senior police officials, the victims’ sexual orientation or gender most particularly the National Commissioner identity. Human rights defenders faced of Police, persistently failed to co-operate intimidation and threats. with the Commission’s inquiries about the meeting. The decision to disarm the striking BACKGROUND miners was taken despite the anticipation of Following the general elections in May the loss of life and injury. It led to the deployment ruling African National Congress (ANC) party of “tactical units” armed with lethal force, the was returned to power in eight out of the firing of over 600 rounds of live ammunition

332 Amnesty International Report 2014/15