The UK is committed to supporting Somaliland’s democratisation process-Harriett Baldwin

April 30, 2019

Horndiplomat-MP Gill Furniss (Labour, Sheffield, Brightside and Hillsborough) asked Uk minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Harriett Baldwin questions related to Somaliland’s Democracy and Human Rights.

Mp Gill Furniss question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support basic human rights in Somaliland?

Harriett Mary Morison Baldwin Uk Minister of State for Africa

The UK provides a range of assistance that supports human rights in Somaliland. This includes working with the Somaliland judiciary to establish a Code of Conduct and a Monitoring and Inspection Committee, to provide judicial training on rights compliance, to ensure the police are operating in line with international human rights standards, and to improve detention conditions. The UK also supported the Somaliland government to establish a media code of conduct and maintains regular engagement with civil society on freedom of expression, women’s rights, and minority rights.

Mp Gill Furniss question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what diplomatic steps he is taking to support democratic processes in Somaliland?

Answered by: Harriett Baldwin

The UK is committed to supporting Somaliland’s democratisation process, in particular, timely elections in Somaliland. This forms an integral part of the ongoing dialogue between the British Office in Hargeisa and the Somaliland government. Earlier this month, our Ambassador to Somalia met President Bihi of Somaliland to underline the need for parliamentary and local council elections to take place on time, ‪on 12 December 2019. The UK also provides technical expertise to the Somaliland election commission and is working to support improvements to the voter registration system and promote women’s participation.