ARTICLE 19 has contributed to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Somalia. The submission focussed on Somalia’s compliance with its obligations under international human rights law to protect and promote the right to freedom of expression and information, with a focus on the legal framework and impunity for attacks on journalists. The submission considered the situations in Federal Somalia, Somaliland, and Puntland separately and concentrated on the following specific areas:
- Laws restricting freedom of expression
- Attacks against journalists and media workers
- Freedom of expression in Somaliland
- Freedom of expression in Puntland
ARTICLE 19 notes that little progress has been made to implement recommendations to which Somalia committed relating to freedom of expression since its first UPR, held in May 2011.