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Amnesty International Report 2014/15 the State of the World's Human Rights

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Amnesty International Report 2014/15 the State of the World's Human Rights 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, SOMALIA and they continued to face obstacles, including prejudice, in accessing social Federal Republic of Somalia housing. Discrimination against Roma in the Head of state: Hassan Sheikh Mohamud 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 African Union 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 Abdi Farah Shirdon 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, Mogadishu. 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 Ahmed Abdi Godane, 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
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