HUMAN “It’s Like We’re Always RIGHTS in a Prison” WATCH Abuses Against Boys Accused of National Security Offenses in Somalia “It’s Like We’re Always in a Prison” Abuses Against Boys Accused of National Security Offenses in Somalia Copyright © 2018 Human Rights Watch All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America ISBN: 978-1-6231-35744 Cover design by Rafael Jimenez Human Rights Watch defends the rights of people worldwide. We scrupulously investigate abuses, expose the facts widely, and pressure those with power to respect rights and secure justice. Human Rights Watch is an independent, international organization that works as part of a vibrant movement to uphold human dignity and advance the cause of human rights for all. Human Rights Watch is an international organization with staff in more than 40 countries, and offices in Amsterdam, Beirut, Berlin, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Goma, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Nairobi, New York, Paris, San Francisco, Sydney, Tokyo, Toronto, Tunis, Washington DC, and Zurich. For more information, please visit our website: http://www.hrw.org FEBRUARY 2018 ISBN: 978-1-6231-35744 “It’s Like We’re Always in a Prison” Abuses Against Boys Accused of National Security Offenses in Somalia Glossary .............................................................................................................................. i Map ................................................................................................................................... ii Summary ........................................................................................................................... 1 Key Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 8 Immediate Action for the Somali Government .......................................................................... 8 Intermediate and Long-Term Actions ........................................................................................ 8 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 10 I. Context ......................................................................................................................... 13 Somalia’s Ongoing Conflict ..................................................................................................... 13 Children in Somalia’s Conflict ................................................................................................. 15 Ongoing Recruitment, Use of Children by Al-Shabab ......................................................... 16 Existing Policy Framework Affecting Children Formerly with Al-Shabab .............................. 18 II. Abuses Against Children in Pre-charge Detention ......................................................... 22 Pathways into Government Custody ........................................................................................ 23 Abuse of Children in Custody of Intelligence Agencies ............................................................. 25 Ill-treatment and Forced Confessions ............................................................................... 26 Lengthy Pre-Charge Detention ......................................................................................... 29 Lack of Access to Relatives and Lawyers ........................................................................... 31 Harsh Conditions, Detention with Adults .......................................................................... 32 Use of Children as Informants ........................................................................................... 33 III. Military Court Prosecutions of Children ....................................................................... 36 Puntland/Galmudug Caseload –Discrepancies in Practices Across the Country ....................... 37 Unlawful Confessions, Evidence Obtained Under Coercion, Torture ......................................... 39 Age Determination ................................................................................................................. 40 Right to Legal Counsel, Guardians, Preparing and Presenting a Defense .................................. 42 Sentencing and Right to Appeal .............................................................................................. 43 Child Detention in Prisons ...................................................................................................... 45 Children in Mogadishu Central Prison .............................................................................. 46 Children in Garowe Prison ................................................................................................ 47 IV. Rehabilitation ............................................................................................................. 49 Serendi and Adult Rehabilitation Centers ............................................................................... 49 Children Rehabilitation Centers, Programs .............................................................................. 51 V. International and Somali Law ....................................................................................... 55 International Legal Standards ................................................................................................. 55 Prohibiting the Recruitment and Use of Children in Armed Conflict .................................... 55 Treatment of Captured Children ........................................................................................ 56 Standards for Children Accused of Terrorism-Related Crimes ............................................ 58 Applicable Somali Law ........................................................................................................... 60 Federal Law ..................................................................................................................... 60 Puntland .......................................................................................................................... 61 Pending Legislation ......................................................................................................... 62 VI. Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 63 To the President of Somalia .................................................................................................... 63 To the Minister for Internal Security and Head of the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) .................................................................................................................................... 64 To the Minister of Defense ...................................................................................................... 65 To the Minister of Justice ........................................................................................................ 65 To the Somali Federal Parliament, Including Federal-level Parliaments ................................... 66 To the Somali Federal Government and Federal-level Governments ......................................... 67 To the Ministers for Internal Security and Justice .................................................................... 68 To the Government of Puntland .............................................................................................. 68 To Al-Shabab ......................................................................................................................... 69 To International Donors, Particularly those Supporting Security Sector Reform and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Programs .................................................... 69 To the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ...................................................................... 71 To the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) ............................................... 72 To the UN Department of Political Affairs and Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) ................................................................................................................................. 72 To AMISOM and Its Troop Contributing Countries .................................................................... 72 To the UN Security Council ...................................................................................................... 73 Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................ 74 Appendix I: Letter to NISA ................................................................................................. 75 Appendix II: Letter to Federal Minister of Justice ............................................................... 79 Appendix III: Letter to Puntland Minister of Justice ........................................................... 82 Glossary Al-Shabab Islamist armed group controlling much of the countryside and key supply routes in south-central Somalia. ISIS Islamic State armed group, sometimes referred to as ISIL. NISA National Intelligence and Security Agency, Somalia’s intelligence service. PIA Puntland Intelligence Agency, also known as Puntland Intelligence Service. Barista Hisbiga Main NISA detention and investigation facility within the Presidential Palace in Mogadishu. Godka Jilaow NISA detention center. MRM