Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their latest assessment of the human rights situation in Somalia.

​The human rights situation in Somalia continues to be blighted by serious violations and abuses perpetrated by state and non state actors. A 2016/2017 electoral process resulted in a peaceful transfer of power, and increased representation of women in parliament. However, there were increased Al Shabaab attacks in the electoral period, including against civilians. 2016 saw a marked increase in the number of children involved in armed conflict, and frequent reports of civilian casualties in armed conflict. Sexual violence remains endemic. Access to justice remains very restricted. The Committee to Protect Journalists' annual Impunity Index named Somalia, for the second time in 2016, as the worst place in the world to be a journalist. The death penalty continues to be applied and carried out.