Tackling Sexual Violence in Somalia: Prevention and Protection

This report is jointly published by the United Nations Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR). The report provides a fact-based analysis of progress and obstacles in the prevention and response to conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV) between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2022. The report covers eight areas. The first is the context in which the violations reported occurred, which is one of a non-international armed conflict and a protracted humanitarian crisis. The second area covers the trends and patterns of CRSV. Alleged perpetrators are covered in the third section, while the fourth identifies the types of incidents and violations reported and the profile of the survivors. The fifth section covers service provision and the challenges that survivors face. This is followed by a discussion of Somalia’s legal framework on the protection of women and girls as well as legal reform efforts. The seventh area examines good practices for addressing the consequences of sexual violence and the lessons that can be drawn from there. The report concludes with recommendations to the Somali national authorities and the international community.