STORY: Somali National Army officers undergo training in

human rights and child protection

DURATION: 4:54
SOURCE: AMISOM PUBLIC INFORMATION
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CREDIT REQUIRED: AMISOM PUBLIC
INFORMATION
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH/ SOMALI/ NATURAL SOUND
DATELINE: 13-17/OCTOBER/2019, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

SHOT LIST:

1. Wide shot, participants taking part in the Human Rights and Child Protection
training
2. Med shot, Somali National Army officers and partners listening during the
Human Rights and Child Protection training
3. Close up shot, Partner listening during the Human Rights and Child Protection
training
4. Med shot, Deputy Special Representative of the African Union Commission
Chairperson (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo flanked by officials from
the Federal Government of Somalia listening during the training
5. Med shot, participants listening during the training
6. Med shot, Deputy Special Representative of the African Union Commission
Chairperson (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo making his remarks during
the training
7. Wide shot, Deputy Special Representative of the African Union Commission
Chairperson (DSRCC) for Somalia, Simon Mulongo making his remarks during
the training
8. Wide shot, Somali National Army officers (SNA) listening during the training
9. Wide shot, participants listening during the training
10. Wide shot, Somali Defence Minister, Hassan Ali Mohamed, flanked by Special
Representative of the African Union Commission Chairperson (SRCC) for
Somalia, Francisco Madeira arriving at the venue of the training
11. Med shot, the Somali Federal Defence Minister, Hassan Ali Mohamed,
flanked by Special Representative of the African Union Commission
Chairperson (SRCC) for Somalia, Francisco Madeira listening during the
training closing ceremony
12. Wide shot, participants listening during the closing ceremony of the training
workshop
13. Med shot, SNA officers listening during the closing ceremony of the training
workshop
14. Wide shot, participants listening during the closing ceremony of the training
workshop
15. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) HASSAN ALI MOHAMED, SOMALI DEFENCE
MINISTER
“Our message is loud and clear. Grave violations against human rights should
come to an end, especially child recruitment. This is in line with United
Nations Resolution on Child soldiers and respect for human rights. This
should be the core value of the SNA in its preservation of human rights and
prevention of child recruitment both at times of war and peace. Children
should not be used as soldiers. This is our message.”

16. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) AMBASSADOR FRANCISCO MADEIRA, SPECIAL

REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON
(SRCC) FOR SOMALIA
“As we anticipate the eventual handover from AMISOM to Somali Security
Forces, one thing that you need to constantly remember is that the SNA, just
like any other security organ in Somalia should carry out its security
obligations in compliance with the relevant international obligations under
the human rights and the International Humanitarian Law. At AMISOM we
recognize the great efforts of the Federal Government of Somalia and the
Federal Member States in the protection and promotion of human rights,
especially the right of children and the collective strides to prevent the
recruitment and use of child soldiers in Somalia. This endeavor is critical both
as a legal and moral imperative as well as work towards restoring peace in
Somalia.”

17. SOUNDBITE: (ENGLISH) MUSA GBOW, DELLAIRE’S TRAINING COORDINATOR

FOR AFRICA
"It taught these participants not only the theoretical aspects of what they are
expected to do or what they should learn, but it also provided some real
world practical examples that they were exercised through, using scenarios
that are very much realistic and akin to the situation in Somalia."

18. Med shot, participant from SNA receiving a certificate after completion of the
training
19. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) MUKTAR HASSAN TIFOW, PARTICIPANT FROM
SOMALI NATIONAL ARMY (SNA)
“We gained valuable knowledge at the training on how to prevent child
recruitment, which perfectly applies to SNA. We endeavour to apply what we
have learnt and to make sure that children are not recruited into our armed
forces. We would not let all these efforts and resources go to waste.”

20. Wide shot, participant from SNA receiving a certificate after completion of
the training
21. Med shot, participant receiving a certificate after completion of the training
22. Med shot, participant receiving a certificate after completion of the training
23. SOUNDBITE: (SOMALI) SUMAYA JOWHAR BADAL, PARTICIPANT FROM
SOMALI NATIONAL ARMY (SNA)
 “For the last five days, we have been imparted with the knowledge and skills
necessary in the prevention of child recruitment and protection of human
rights. The training was invaluable, and we are grateful to our instructors for
taking the time to increase our knowledge. This will help us, as focal point
persons, in conveying back what we have learnt to effectively deter child
recruitment.”

24. Wide shot, participants and officials posing for a group photo

Somali National Army officers undergo training in human rights and child
protection
MOGADISHU, 19 October 2019 – Twenty-six security personnel from the Somali
National Army (SNA) and the Federal Ministry of Defence have completed a five-day
training on human rights and child protection.

The five-day training, organised by the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM),
in collaboration with the Romeo Dallaire Child Soldiers Initiative (RDCSI), was aimed
at enhancing Somali security forces’ compliance with the International Human Rights
Law.

The recruitment and use of child soldiers as combatants in armed conflict by

terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab remains a key concern in Somalia.

Presently, AMISOM is implementing a conditions-based, gradual transfer of security

responsibilities to the Somali security forces under the Somalia Transition Plan.
Under the plan, AMISOM is supporting the Somali security forces to build capacity to
prevent recruitment and use of children as fighters.

Participants in the training, held in Mogadishu, included Child Protection focal

persons drawn from SNA units across the country and officials from the Child
Protection Unit in the Federal Ministry of Defence.
Speaking at the end of the training on Thursday, the Federal Minister of Defence,
Hassan Ali Mohamed, reiterated the federal government’s commitment to ensuring
the protection of children.

“Our message is loud and clear. Violations of human rights should end, especially
recruitment and use of child soldiers,” he declared. “This is in line with the relevant
United Nations Resolution relating to issues of child soldiers, as well as respect for
human rights.”

According to the Minister, ending such violations is part of the Somali National
Army’s goal to preserve human rights in times of war and peace.

“Children should not be recruited as soldiers, and this is our message,” the Minister
emphasised.

He urged the focal persons to take personal initiative to gain more knowledge in
human rights and child protection, and apply the knowledge acquired to carry out
their duties.

The Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission

(SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador Francisco Madeira, reiterated that the training was
crucial to AMISOM’s exit strategy.

“It is by no mistake that they selected you as Child Protection focal persons, critical
to mainstreaming Child Protection across Somalia. Completion of this training marks
an important milestone in the professionalisation of the SNA,” Ambassador Madeira,
who is also the head of AMISOM, told the participants.

“SNA should execute its obligations in compliance with the relevant international
obligations under the human rights and International Humanitarian Law,” he added.
According to the RDCSI Regional Training Manager for Africa, Musa Gbow, the
trainees gained adequate knowledge to enable them to perform their duties. The
participants received certificates at the end of the training.

Commenting on the outcome of the training, AMISOM Human Rights Officer, Ulrike
Khabila Mbuton, said participants resolved to ensure reporting of violations against
children and coordinate with the Child Protection Unit in the Federal Ministry of
Defence to address these violations.

Lt. Col Mukhtar Hassan Tifow, from Benadir region, said they had gained valuable
knowledge to ensure the protection of children. “We will not let these efforts and
resources go to waste,” noted Lt. Col. Mukhtar.

2Lt. Sumaya Jowhar Badal, also said the training had capacitated her to deter child
recruitment. “We are grateful to our instructors for taking the time to enhance our
knowledge,” she added. ENDS