The first such review to be held since an initial UPR of Somalia’s human rights record occurred in 2011, the exercise gave Somalia an opportunity to review recent developments related to human rights and demonstrate to what degree the recommendations that came out of the first UPR five years ago have been implemented.

A total of 228 recommendations to improve Somalia’s human rights record were received during this UPR process. The Somali delegation accepted 107 recommendations and agreed to consider the remaining ones.

“I call on Somali authorities to reflect on the priority recommendations that were presented and move forward with their implementation,” said SRSG Keating. “The international community’s support will be required now more than ever before to support Somalia in fulfilling the commitments undertaken during this review, and the UN will support Somalia in this process.”

This year’s review session highlighted the progress achieved over the last four years such as the steps taken to establish the independent, national Human Rights Commission, the adoption of a national action plan to implement a human rights road map, Somalia’s ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, and the implementation of an action plan to end sexual violence in conflict.