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SDG16+ Coalition

Somaliland SDG16+ Progress Report

June 2019Somaliland Civil Society SDG16+ Coalition

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4

INTRODUCTION 6

PART A - PROCESS 8

(a) The track record on reporting 8

(b) Alignment 8

(c) OfficialGovernmentstrategy,structuresandcapacitiesforSDG16+ 9

(d) Civilsocietystrategy,structuresandcapacitiesforSDG16+ 10

PART B: CONTENT 12

(a) PrioritySDG16+targets 12

(b) IndicatorsforselectedSDG16+targets 13

(c) ReviewofProgress 14

PART C: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 27

(a) Conclusion 27

(b) Recommendations 29

Annex1:ListofCSOsSDG16+consultationattendance 33

Annex2:Datagathering 34

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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DespitethegovernmentofSomalilandnottakingpartinthenegotiationprocessthatledtotheadoptionofthe2030Agenda,ithasproactivelyengagedontheimplementationof theSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).AuthoritieshaveendorsedtheSDGsand includedtheminthenationaldevelopmentframework, theSomalilandNationalDevelopment Plan II (NDPII). Nonetheless, the government of Somaliland remainsunable to share this progresswith official UNmechanismsbecause of its politicalstatus.ToensurethatSomaliland’seffortstoimplementtheSDGsaresharedwiththerestoftheworld,civilsocietyhasdecidedtofillthegap–andreportontheprocessandprogressonSDG16+implementationinSomaliland.

ThisisanindependentprogressreportthatisproducedandownedbytheSomalilandSDG16+ Coalition – a group of civil society organisations working to implementSDG16+inallregionsofSomaliland.Thereportitselfisaresultofaninclusiveandcomprehensiveconsultationprocessinvolvingcivilsocietyandrelevantgovernmentorgansanddepartments.Thepurposeistooutlinetheprogressthathasbeenmade,existinggapsandtoproviderecommendationstosustainprogressandfillgaps.

Thereportissplitintothreemainsections.ThefirstanalysestheprocesstointegrateSDG16+ into national development activities. The second reviews progress onfourchosenSDG16+ targetsand the thirdandfinalsectionoffersconclusionsandrecommendationsfortheinvolvedactorsinSomaliland.

InSomaliland,wehaveseenencouragingsignsthatauthoritiesarebeginningtotaketheSDGsandSDG16+seriously.Anationaldevelopmentplan(NDPII)hasbeendevelopedusing“theSDGsasthe‘technicalfoundation.’TheNDPIIincludesmanytargetsrelevanttoSDG16+,butunfortunatelythishasnotfiltereddowntoothergovernmentstrategies.TheNDPIIiscommendableinitsambition,butitistoofar-reaching–withhugebudgetgapsandindicatorsthatcurrentcapacitycannotmeasure.

ThisreportreviewsprogressinSomalilandtowardsdeliveringonSDG16.3:Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all;SDG5.5:Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life; SDG5.3:Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation, and;SDG16.10:Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements. In each caseavailabledatahasbeenreviewedusingtheUN-IAEGindicators,complementaryglobal indicators, and nationally specific indicators that have been developed incollaborationwithcivilsocietypartnersinSomaliland.Attimesdatawasdifficulttosourcedue toa lackofwillingnessfromsomepartners toshare thiswithcoalitionmembers.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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IneachofthefourSDG16+targetsreviewed,thereareexamplesofpositiveactionwithsubstantialscopetomakefurtherprogressinthecomingyears.Therealizationofthisprogresswillrequireconsistentandmorestrategicfundingfromthegovernmentandothersourcesincludingdonorsandtheprivatesector.ExistinglimitedfundingsourcesarenotwellcoordinatedandarerarelyallocatedonthebasisofSDGstargets.ThereisaneedtosupportthecapacityofgovernmentagenciesandcivilsocietyorganizationstocopewiththedemandsofimplementingandmonitoringanambitiousagendalikeSDG16+.

Ultimately,despitethepositiveworkofsomegovernmentagenciesandcivilsocietyorganisationsinSomaliland,technicalandfinancialchallengesposeabigbarriertoeffective implementationofSDG16+.This iscompoundedby the inability tocollectreliable,up-to-datedisaggregateddataontheimpactofmanyimplementationefforts,whichishinderingoverallefforts.

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DespitethegovernmentofSomalilandnottakingpartinthenegotiationprocessthatledtotheadoptionofthe2030Agenda,ithasproactivelyengagedontheimplementationoftheSustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs).IthasendorsedtheSDGsandincludedtheminitsnationaldevelopmentframework,theNationalDevelopmentPlanII(NDPII),asanexpressionofthecommitmenttotheagenda.

Since Somaliland is not a member of the UN1, the current follow-up and reviewmechanism–theUNHigh-levelPoliticalForum(HLPF)doesnotofferanopportunityforthegovernmenttoreportonitsprogressinimplementingtheSDGs.Giventhecentralityofthe‘leaveno-onebehind’agenda,Somaliland,regardlessofpoliticalstatus,shouldnotbeexcludedwhenitcomestotheSDGs.ToensurethatSomaliland’seffortstoimplementtheSDGsissharedwiththerestoftheworld,civilsocietyhasdecidedtofillthegap–andreportontheprocessandprogressonSDG16+implementationinSomaliland.

ThisisanindependentprogressreportthatisproducedandownedbytheSomalilandSDG16+ Coalition – a group of civil society organisations working to implementSDG16+inallregionsofSomaliland.2Thereportitselfisaresultofaninclusiveandcomprehensiveconsultationprocessinvolvingcivilsocietyandrelevantgovernmentorgansanddepartments.Thepurposeistooutlinetheprogressthathasbeenmade,existinggapsandtoproviderecommendationstosustainprogressandfillgaps.

ThefocusfortheprogressreportcomesfromSDG16+consultationworkshopswhichwereheldin2017and2018acrossSomaliland.Atotalof55civilsocietyorganizationswereconsultedduringthisprogress–representingarangeofdifferentgroupsincludingwomen’sgroups,youthgroups,minorityrights,anddisabilityrightsgroups. Intheseconsultations;thefollowingthreetargetswereselectedfortheshorttermandlongtermSDG16+priorities:

SDG16+priorities for action 2018 -2020:

• SDG5.5:Ensurewomen’sfullandeffectiveparticipationandequalopportunitiesforleadershipatalllevelsofdecisionmakinginpolitical,economicandpubliclife

• SDG5.3:Eliminateallharmfulpractices,suchaschild,earlyandforcedmarriageandfemalegenitalmutilation

• SDG16.3:Promote the ruleof lawat thenationaland international levelsandensureequalaccesstojusticeforall

INTRODUCTION

1. Somaliland declared separation from Somalia in 1991 after the central government of Somalia led by General Mohamed Siad Barre collapsed.

2. The Somaliland SDG16+ Coalition was established to enhance collaboration among civil society groups, recognising the importance of partnerships if the 2030 Agenda is to be successfully implemented. The Coalition is composed of the Horn of Africa – Center for Policy Analysis (CPA), the Somaliland Human Rights Center (HRC), the Network against FGM in Somaliland (NAFIS), Saferworld, the Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum (SONSAF), and the Somaliland National Youth Umbrella (SONYO).

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SDG16+ priorities for action 2020–2030:

• SDG16.5:Substantiallyreducecorruptionandbriberyinalltheirforms

• SDG 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamentalfreedoms,inaccordancewithnationallegislationandinternationalagreements

• SDG16.6:Developeffective,accountableandtransparentinstitutionsatalllevels

InFebruary2019,civilsocietyorganizationsdecidedwhichoftheseSDG16+targetsand indicators tobeused in theprogress report–anddecided the report tocoverSDG16.3,SDG16.10,SDG5.5, and SDG5.3.Hereafter,adatagatheringprocesswascarriedoutinwhichcivilsocietyorganizations,UNagencies,internationalNGOsandvarious government departments were involved. Both primary data and secondarydatawerecollectedintheprocess.Therelevantgovernmentagenciesweretargetedinthedatagatheringprocesstofindouttheofficialdata.Also,datafromcivilsocietyorganizations,internationalorganizationsandUNagenciesweregathered.

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a) The track record on reporting

Somaliland has never reported to the UN HLPF because of its political status asanunrecognisedstate. Nevertheless, ithasendorsed theSDGsand included in itsnationaldevelopmentframework,theNDPII.Civilsocietyhasakeyroleinservingasan intermediary tosketch theprogressmadebySomalilandand remaininggaps inordertolinkthelocalcommunitiestoglobalforumsanddiscussions.

WhiletherehavenotbeenanycivilsocietyformalinputstotheHLPF,thisisnotthefirst time Somaliland civil society has reported to an international forum. In 2015,civilsocietyofSomalilandpreparedandsubmittedashadowreportoftheUniversalPeriodic Report(UPR)totheUNHumanRightsCouncil.TheUPRcivilsocietyreportwasbasedonconsultationprocesswith40organizationslocatedinallthesixregionsof Somaliland. After the report was submitted, civil society held a workshop withthe government officials to introduce and sharewith the report recommendations.The government welcomed the recommendations and the process, which enabledSomaliland’s issues to be tabled in an international forum. This SDG16+ progressreportisbeingbuiltontheexperiencegainedfromtheUPRaswellasthecoordinationandcooperationmechanismutilizedduringthedraftingandpreparationoftheUPRreportin2015.

b) Alignment

ThegovernmentofSomalilandadopted itsfirst nationaldevelopmentplan in2011(2011to2016).ThisNationalDevelopmentPlanprecededtheSustainableDevelopmentGoals.Upon theendingof the timeframeof theNDP, thesecondphaseof theplanwaspreparedtocover2017to2021.TheprocessoftheadoptionofthesecondplancalledtheNationalDevelopmentPlanIIwasspearheadedbytheMinistryofNationalPlanningandDevelopment.Governmentagenciesinnational,regionalanddistrictlevelparticipated inaconsultationprocess.Civil societygroupsadvocated for inclusionandalignmentof SDGs in thedevelopment plan. Finally, theNationalDevelopmentPlanII(NDPII)wasapprovedbythecabinetin2017.

The NDP II incorporated SDG16+ and its targets. According to the NationalDevelopmentPlanII,“theSDGsarethetechnicalfoundationforwhichtheNDPIIhasbeendeveloped.”3 SDG5, 8, 10 and 16 are alignedwith the sector divisions of theNDPII.TheNDPIIincludesmanytargetsrelevanttoSDG16+,includingspecifictargetson:reducingviolence;improvingtheruleoflaw,eliminatingorganisedcrime,reducingcorruptionandbribery,developingeffective,accountable,andtransparentinstitutions,enhancingpublicparticipation indecision-making, reducing theharmful practiseoffemalegenitalmutilation(FGM),andimprovinghumanrightsmechanisms.

PART A - PROCESS

3. NDP II Document, page 9

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Nonetheless,SDG16+arerarelymentionedoralignedwithgovernmentstrategicplansandpoliciesoutsideoftheNDPII.TheonlystrategicplansthatreferSDG16+aretheStrategicPlan(2018-2020)oftheMinistryofJusticeandthedraftJudiciaryStrategicPlan of the Judiciary sector. Others including the National Gender Policy and theStrategicPlanoftheMinistryofEmployment,SocialAffairsandFamily(2018-2021)areexamplesofvitalrelateddocumentslackingtoreferSDG16+.

c) Official Government strategy, structures and capacities for SDG16+

TheNationalDevelopmentPlanIIwasformedbytheMinistryofPlanningandNationalDevelopmentastheleadinstitutionforthegovernmentofSomaliland.Theprocesswaslargelygovernmentrunbutcivilsocietywereincludedinconsultations.Comparatively,theformulationprocesswasmoreinclusivethanNDPIwhichwaspreparedwithoutanyconsultationswithcivilsociety.InNDPII,civilsocietywasconsultedandwasabletoproviderecommendations,despitenothavingaleadroleinshapingthecontentsof the plan.The prioritizationworkshops for theNPD IIwere divided into a sectorapproach.Relevant stakeholderswere invited in sector-wise, excluding civil societyorganizationsfromengaginginallprioritizationprocesses.

The National Development Plan (NDP II) is divided into five pillars: 1. EconomicDevelopment; 2. Infrastructure Development; 3. Good Governance; 4. SocialDevelopment;and5.EnvironmentProtection.EachpillarhasaSectorCoordinationand Sub-sector Coordination consisting of government departments, civil societyorganizations,UNagencies,internationalorganizationsanddonors.Sectorsandsub-sectorsselectco-chairsandsecretariat. It is thegovernancesectorwhereSDG16+targetsareintegrated,whichiswheretheSomalilandSDG16+Coalitionmembersplayanactiverole.

While theNDPII is commendable in its ambition, it is too far-reaching–with hugebudgetgapsandunrealistic indicators. It lacksaclearroadmapfor implementationandfinancing.The“estimatedcostofNDPIIinterventionsandoutcomeisaroundUSD2billionintotal”inthefouryearsoftheplan,4whiletheannualbudgetofthegovernmentin2019is2,334,320,463,251SomalilandShillings,whichistheequivalentofUSD182,397,572.5TheMinistryofFinancepreparesbudgetallocationsanditsdistributionisnotareflectionoftheNDPII,weakeningfeasibilityofreachingtargets.AccordingtotheSomalilandAidFollowReport,in2017Somalilandhasreceived$81,452,692.60ofaidfrominternationalnongovernmentorganizationsandUNagencies.6TheseinstitutionsdocarryoutprojectsinSomalilandanddonotnecessarilybasetheirplanningontheNDPII.

The coordination mechanism for NDPII implementation takes place at a nationallevel,butsub-nationalarchitectureismissing.TheplanwastoestablishtheDistrict

4. NDP II document, 5. Exchange rate fluctuates. This conversion is USD 1 equals Somaliland Shillings 10, 000. 6. Somaliland Aid Follow Report, December 2018

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Development Framework in all the 23 districts of Somaliland to coordinate NDP IIimplementationsinsub-nationallevel.Suchframeworklooselyexistsin8districtsthatare under the JointProgramme for LocalGovernanceandServiceDelivery (JPLG).ThisframeworkisexistingwithintheJPLGprocessbutdoesnotoperateseparately.TheJPLGisa jointprogramthathelpsselectedlocalgovernmentsandit "isa jointprogrammingtoolforalignmentofUNprioritiestogovernmentsaswellastomultipledevelopmentpartners'strategiesandtocoordinateprogrammeimplementationandfinancialmanagementofthefiveparticipatingUNagencies."7

TheMinistryofPlanningandNationalDevelopmentisplanningtoprepareandpublishaprogressreportin2019ontheNDPII.Currently,anyrevieworupdateontheNDPIIprogresshaseithernottakenplaceornotbeenmadepublic.TheMinistryofPlanningis responsible for the overallmonitoring in collaboration with relevant governmentdepartments.Thereisnomonitoringpolicyinplace.Hencecoordinatedandstrategicmonitoringandevaluationdonot exist.Thus, there is very little informationon theprogressmade.The department of statistics under theMinistry of Planning is thestatisticsofficeofthegovernment.8Intheabsenceofasynchronizeddatacollectionscheme,theofficedoesnotreceiveupdateddatafromtheothergovernmentagencies.Itsdatacollectionisbasedonsurveysthataremostlycarriedoutonceineveryfiveyears.ThereisnosystematicdatacollectiongroundedonformatpreparedtocapturedatabuiltonindicatorsoftheNDPII.

Technical and financial challenges are the main barriers preventing effectivegovernment data collection. For NDPII progress to be effectively monitored, allgovernment institutionsneedtochangetheirdatacollectionmethodsandtoput inplace an effective and strategicmonitoring system that is reflective of the NDP IIindicatorsandisavailableforstakeholdersandthepublic.

d) Civil society strategy, structures and capacities for SDG16+

Cognizant of the importance of coordination and cooperation for genuineimplementation of the SDGs, the Somaliland SDG16+ Coalition was establishedofficiallyin2018toenhancecollaborationamongcivilsocietygroups,recognisingtheimportanceofpartnerships if the2030Agenda is tobesuccessfully implemented.TheCoalitionisopenforallcivilsocietygroupsandactivistsinSomalilandtojoin.Asaresult,anincreasingnumberoforganizationsandindividualsareontheprocessofbecomingfullmembers.TheplanistoexpandtoenablecommunitiesinvillagesandremotetownstojointheCoalitionsothattheirconcernsanddemandsarepartandparceloftheworkoftheCoalition.

Coalition members coordinated consultations on SDG16+ with 55 civil societyorganisations across all six regions of Somaliland.This led to the identification of

7. http://www.jplg.org/index.php/contents/articles/2/about-us.html8. Somaliland Statistics Act

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short-termandlong-termprioritySDG16+targetsandaccompanyingactivities.Theseactivitiesare intendedtocomplementgovernment,donor, internationalandnationalcivilsocietyinitiatives,andarealigned,wherepossible,withtheSomalilandNationalDevelopmentPlanII.

Thecreationof theCoalitionhashelpedsocialise the languageof theSDGs in theworkofcivilsociety.Forinstance,SDG16ispartofthewidelycirculatedHumanRightsCentre(HRC)annualreviewof2018.9Additionally,HRCandtheCoalitioncollectivelypublishedareportontheaccesstojusticeinSomalilandwithcollaborationwiththeChiefJusticeandtheMinistryofJustice.ThereportwaslaunchedintheHagueandHargeisaandservedasanawarenessandadvocacytoolinnationalandinternationallevels.TheCoalitionmembersattendedconferences inNewYork, Freetown (SierraLeone),Hague,andStockholm,linkingSomaliland’sprogresswithglobalforumsanddiscourses.EachmemberoftheCoalitionhastakenSDG16+targetsaspartofitsdaytodayactivities, increasingawarenessandcontributing implementations.Renewedcampaigns forwomen’s political participation have been taken under the umbrellaoftheSDG16+andactiveleadershipofthemembersoftheCoalition.TheCoalitionalsoservesasaplatformforcoordinationofSDG16+civilsocietyactivitiestoenableinformation sharing, cooperation and collective implementation of activities. ThisenablescertainorganizationssuchashumanrightsdefenderstogetasaferplatformtoworkonsensitivehumanrightsissuesusingthelanguageofdevelopmentundertheSDGsrecognizedandendorsedbythegovernmentofSomalilandandsignedbytheinternationalcommunity,givingaglobalrelevance.

Somaliland SDG16+ Coalition met with senior government officials in relevantministers, judicial bodies and agencies including the Chief Justice, theMinister ofJustice,theMinisterofParliamentaryRelations&Constitution,theMinisterofSocialAffairs,DeputyMinisterofPlanning,directorgeneralsofministriesofJustice,PlanningandNationalDevelopment, Information and Interior amongothers.The purpose oftheseinteractionswastosharewiththeauthoritiestheworkandplansofthecoalitionpertinenttotheSDG16+andtodevelopapartnershipandcooperation.

AvailabilityofdataisverylimitedinSomalilandduetoanumberoffactors.First,thereisnocentralizedsystemandstandard to recordofficialdata.Second,departmentswithdatadonotdocumentinaneasilyaccessiblemanner.Third,documenteddataisnotbasedonhumanpersonswhosoughtservicesinagencies,butratherthenumberofcasesrecorded.Thisremovesahumanfacefromthedataandmakeshardtogetmeaningfulinformationthatcantellhowmanypeople,forinstance,werearrestedina yearor contactedwith the judicial authorities. Fourth, therearequestionson theaccuracyofofficialdataanddatawithcivilsociety.Thelateralwaysrecorddataonthebasisofimplementationofaprojectandthereisatendencyofreportingsuccesstodonors.Fifth, transparency toshare informationwith thepublic,particularly, civilsocietyisahardandlegalframeworkfortherighttoinformationislacking.

9. The Coalition members use SDGs in their reports. Example: http://hrcsomaliland.org/the-situation-of-freedom-of-expression-in-somaliland/

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a) Priority SDG16+ targets

TheNDP II acknowledges the SDGs and incorporates some of its targets. But theprioritisationprocessoftheNDPIIwascarriedoutbythegovernmentwithlittleroomforcivilsociety.Itisdraftedinanambitiouswayandischallengedbyfinancialgaps.Civilsocietyrecognizedtheneedtoformulateprioritiesfor theshort termand longtermtakingintoaccounttheglobalindicatorsandnationalindicatorsaswell.

BecausetheNDPIIprocesswasgovernment-owned,civilsocietyneededtoundertakeaprioritizationprocessthatisownedandcontributedbycivilsocietyacrossthecountryandfromdiversegroups.Civilsocietyprioritisationwasan inclusiveprocesswhichprovidedanopportunity thatwasnotavailable in theNDP II. Inclusiveengagementpromotes common ownership and collaboration needed to push civil societyinterventionstocontributetothedevelopment.

Asaresultoftheconsultations,thefollowingprioritytargetswereidentified:

1. SDG16.3-Promotetheruleoflawatthenationalandinternationallevelsandensureequalaccesstojusticeforall

Related Somaliland NDPII Target -By2021,increaseeffectivenessandefficiencyofruleoflawatthenationallevelandensureequalaccesstojusticeforallby70%.

2. SDG16.7 - Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representativedecision-makingatalllevels

Related Somaliland NDPII Target - By 2021, enhance public/communityparticipationinthedecision-makingprocessofallnationalmatters.

3. SDG16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamentalfreedoms,inaccordancewithnationallegislationandinternationalagreements

Related Somaliland NDPII Target - By 2021, develop national communicationpolicies and strategies for promoting access to information and communityengagement.

Related Somaliland NDPII Target - By 2020, amend and developmedia sectorregulationsanddevelopmediaqualityStandards

4. SDG5.3-Eliminateallharmfulpractices,suchaschild,earlyandforcedmarriageandfemalegenitalmutilation

Related Somaliland NDPII Target-Reducetheharmfulpracticesoffemalegenitalmutilationby10%(AddressingissuesofGBV)-FGM89.1%asatarget.

PART B: CONTENT

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5. SDG5.5-Ensurewomen’sfullandeffectiveparticipationandequalopportunitiesforleadershipatalllevelsofdecisionmakinginpolitical,economicandpubliclife

Related Somaliland NDPII Target-By2021,increaseandpromotethenumberoffemaleworkersinleadershippositionsinthepublicsectorto20%.

Related Somaliland NDPII Target -Proportionofseatsheldbywomeninnationalparliamentsandlocalgovernments

Giventhecapacityofpartnersproducingthisreport,itwasdecidedthatnotalltheseprioritySDG16+targetswouldbefocuseduponinthisinauguralreport.Instead,itwasdecidedthat the reportwouldcoverSDG16.3,SDG16.10,SDG5.5, and SDG5.3 in 2019,withaviewtoexpandingthescopeinsubsequentyears.

b) Indicators for selected SDG16+ targets

InFebruary2019,civilsocietyorganizations includingSomalilandSDG16+Coalitioncollectivelyidentifiedindicatorstobeusedfortheprioritytargetspreviouslyidentifiedbycivilsocietyconsultationworkshopsheldin2017and2018.Theidentificationoftheindicatorswasbasedontheavailabilityofdatarelevanttoeachindicator.TheUN-IAEGindicatorsandcomplementarynationalindicatorswerechosentobeused.ThereasonfortheselectionofindicatorsfromvarioussourceswastofindindicatorsmostappropriateintheparticularcontextofSomaliland.

Therefore,bothglobalindicatorsandthenationalindicatorsadoptedbythegovernmentofSomalilandinitsNationalDevelopmentPlanIIwereconsidered.Fromtheconsultationofcivilsocietyrepresentingvariousanddiversegroups,thefollowingindicatorsweredecidedtobeusedfortheprogressreportandtoguidethedatagathering.

SDG16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all OfficialUN-IAEGindicatorstouse:• 16.3.1Proportionofvictimsofviolence in theprevious12monthswhoreportedtheir victimization to competentauthoritiesorotherofficially recognizedconflictresolutionmechanisms

• 16.3.2UnsentenceddetaineesasaproportionofoverallprisonpopulationAdditionalnationalindicatorstouse:• 16.3.aProportionofcaseswherelegalassistanceserviceswereprovided• 16.3.bPercentageof thepopulationthathaveapositiveperceptionofaccesstojustice.

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SDG 5.3 - Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation OfficialUN-IAEGindicatorstouse:• 5.3.2Proportionofgirlsandwomenaged15–49yearswhohaveundergonefemalegenitalmutilation/cutting,byage

Additionalnationalindicatorstouse:• 5.3.aNumberoflegislationrelatedtocriminalisingandpreventingthepracticeofFGM/C

SDG16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

OfficialUN-IAEGindicatorstouse:• 16.10.1Numberofverifiedcasesofarbitrarydetentionjournalists,associatedmediapersonnel,tradeunionistsandhumanrightsadvocatesintheprevious12months

• 16.10.2Number of countries that adopt and implement constitutional, statutoryand/orpolicyguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformation

Complementaryglobalindicatorstouse:• 16.10.4FreedomofthePressindexscoreAdditionalnationalindicatorstouse:• 16.10.aNumberofverifiedcasesofapermanentprohibitiononindividualspractisingjournalism,thecancellationoflicencesintheprevious12months

SDG 5.5 - Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life. OfficialUN-IAEGindicatorstouse:• 5.5.1Proportionofseatsheldbywomenin(a)nationalparliamentsand(b)localgovernments

• 5.5.2ProportionofwomeninmanagerialpositionsAdditionalnationalindicatorstouse:• 5.5.aProportionofwomeninleadershippositionsinpoliticalpositions• 5.5.bProportionofwomeninthecurrentcabinetpositions

c) Review of Progress

1. SDG16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

Thegovernmentallocatesbudget for theaccess to justice institutionssuchas thejudiciary,policeandtheministryofjustice.Thebudgetallocatedfortheseinstitutionsissmallandhardlycoversanyextensionsorexpansion.However,itisthefoundations

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forformaljusticedeliverymechanismavailableforthepublic.In2019,thebudgetforthejudiciarywas1.4%whileitwas1.25%in2018ofthenationalbudget.Incomparisonto2018,thereisaslightincrease.Themajorityofthebudgetisallocatedforsalariesandallowance.

Supreme Court Percentage of allocation

Lower Courts of all regions10

Percentage of allocation

Salaryandallowance 77% Salaryandallowance 90%Usageofequipmentandoperations

21% Usageofequipmentandoperations

7%

Maintenanceofvehicles

2% ConstructionofnewbuildingforHargeisaAppealCourtandOodweyneregional/districtcourt

3%

Total 100% 100%

10. Lower courts are courts of the first instance (district and regional courts) and appeal courts in regions.11. Source: 2019 Annual Budget approved the House of Representatives12. Ibid13. Somaliland Aid Follow Report, December 2018

Figure 1: Disaggregation of the allocation of the judiciary in the 2019 budget11

International organizations and UN agencies provide technical support to stateagencies,while civil society organizations tend towork on advocacy and legal aidprovisions. Donors provide the justice institutions support channelled through UNagencies,internationalorganizations,companiesandlocalorganizations.Absenceofcoordination,strategiesanddataposeachallenge inmeaningfulcontribution.Civilsociety activitiesmainly take place in urban areas and focuson the formal justicesystem.Theinformaljusticesystemislargelyignored,despitebeingaconflictresolutionmechanismformanypeopleinruralandnomadicareasaswellastowns.In2018,12newcourtswereestablishedinsmalldistricts.12Districtcourtsarefirstinstancecourtswithjurisdictionovermisdemeanorcriminalacts,familycasesandcivilcaseswhosemonetaryvalueislessthan3millionSomalilandShillings(approximately300USD).

Somaliland Aid Follow Report (December 2018) shows that governance sector,which“includessecurity,justice,media,elections,etc.,”receivedin2017fromINGOs$4,966,306.94, constituting 6% out of the total contributions of the INGOs and UNagenciesinthatyear.Mardojihehregion(thecapital)receivedthe“most44%.”13 The data in the report isnotdisaggregatedanddoesnot showwhathasbeenactuallydone.

CivilsocietyorganizationswhotookpartintheconsultationworkshopsheldacrossthecountryfordiversestakeholdersselectedSDG16.3tobeincludedasthepriorityintheshorttermandtocovertheprogressreport.Accesstojusticeandruleoflaware

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vitalforapost-conflictcountrythatisstrivingtobuildstronginstitutions,ruleoflawandconstitutionalism.ManyofthepopulationofSomalilandliveinruralandnomadicareasandininternallydisplacedpersoncampsaroundcities.14Henceensuringaccesstojusticeforallandremovingallbarriershinderingdisadvantagedgroupstoaccessjusticeisproposedtobeatoppriority.

In the data gathering for this target, nongovernmental organisations, governmentdepartments and the judiciarywere focused to find out information.The followinginternationalnon-governmentalorganizationsandUNagencieswerecontactedandasked toprovidedataand information regarding this targetand theirfieldofwork:UNDP,UNFPA,Pact,Horizon,Axiom,UNSOMandNorwegianRefugeeCouncil(NRC).

Underthistarget, the issuesweplanto include inthenextreport includeaspecificsectiononwomen'saccess to justice, IDPsaccess to justice,and informalconflictresolutionmechanismsuchascustomarylawwithspecialfocusonruralandnomadiccommunities.

Indicator:16.3.1Proportionofvictimsofviolence in theprevious12monthswhoreported their victimization tocompetentauthoritiesorotherofficially recognizedconflictresolutionmechanisms

In2018annualreportofthePolicepublishedin3rdNovember,thePolicestatedthat19,664occurrencesofcriminalcaseswerereportedtothepoliceacrossthecountry.15 Only28%werebroughttocourt.Morethanhalfofthesecriminalcaseswerependingat thetimeof thereport.Accordingtothereport,44%wereresolvedoutsideof thecourt systemandhave not proceeded to formal court.These caseswere resolvedthrough settlements reached by involved parties using customary law and otherinformal conflict resolutionmechanisms. There is no record of how outside courtconflict resolution involved reportedcriminal caseswerehandlednor thenatureofthesecases.

14. https://somalia.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/pub-pdf/Population-Estimation-Survey-of-Somalia-PESS-2013-2014.pdf

15. Police Annual Report, 3rd November 2018

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19,664 cases

3,705 cases19%

1,700 cases9%

5,559 casesProceeded to court

Resolved outside of court

Pending investgation

Closed by the police

28%

8,663 cases44%

Figure 2: Cases reported to Somaliland police in 2018

Figure 3: Proportion of civil and criminal cases filed with Somaliland Courts in 2018

In2018,thecourtsofSomalilandreceived9037civilcasesand6371criminalcases.16Thismakesatotalof15,408.Atleasttwopeopleareinvolvedineverycase,meaningmore than 30, 000 people sought justice from the courts in 2018. To expand thejudiciaryactivitiestothosewhoarenotresidentinproximatetocourtinfrastructures,courtsmovedinaprocesscalledmobilecourts.Mobilecourtsarenotspecialcourts,butsometimesjudgeshearingcasestraveltovillages,ruralareasandprisonslocatedoutsideofcitiestohearcases.In2018,themobilecourtshavereceived725criminalcasesand561civilcases.Thepartiesinvolvedinthesecaseswere2831people.17

16. Somaliland Judiciary Commission 17. Ibid

59%

41%

Overall cases filed with the courts in 2018

Civil cases Criminal cases

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Both the police and court reports are not disaggregated and are not basedon thepeoplewhosoughtservice,butratherthenumberofcasedfilled.Therefore,itisnotclearhowmanyvictimswereinvolvedinthe19,664casesreportedbythepolice.Thesamedatagapexistsinthecourtreports.

Indicator:16.3.aProportionofcaseswherelegalassistanceserviceswereprovided

Legalaidisparamountforaccesstojustice.ThecriminalprocedurelawofSomalilanddoesnotobligethestatetoprovidefreelegalservicestoallaccusedpersons.18According tothelaw,onlyasuspectchargedofacriminalactwhoseminimumpunishmentis10yearsofimprisonmentareeligibleforstate-sponsoredfreelegalrepresentation.Fewseriouscrimesfallunderthiscategory.Hencethemajorityofaccusedpersonswhocannotaffordlegalfeesarenoteligibleforstate-sponsoredlegalaid.Thecivillawsdonotofferstate-sponsoredlegalaidtothosewhoarepartiesofcivilcases.

In2018,539casesweregivenfreelegalaidrepresentationbythepublicdefendersoftheMinistryofJusticeandnongovernmental legalaidinstitutions.19ThemajorityofrepresentationstookplaceinHargeisa.InnationwidetheMinistryofJusticehasonly4publicdefenderstaskedtoprovidefreelegalservices.20Theyareoverwhelmedbytheoverloadofcases.In2018,theyreceived211cases21.Thisis52casesperlawyerin a year.To fill the gap, there are nongovernmental entities that provide legal aid.ALegalAidBill isunder theconsultationsprocessand ifpassed,willexpandstateresponsibilitytoprovidelegalaidandwillrecognizeparalegalswhoarecurrentlynotacknowledgedbylaw.

Thereare25 legalaid lawyerswith theUniversityofHargeisa,SomalilandLawyersAssociation, Somaliland Women Lawyers Association, Horizon and the MinistryofJustice. The legalprofession is largelyunregulated.TheLawyersLicensingandDiscipliningCommission(LLDC)isresponsibleforprovidinglicensestolawyersallowedtopracticeinSomaliland.Butonly50lawyersareregisteredwiththeinstitution.Intheabsenceofaregistration,thereisnoinformationregardingtheoveralllawyersworkinginthecountry,norinformationonhowmanyprobonoservices, ifany,areprovided.TheestimategivenbystaffintheLLDCandtheSomalilandLawyersAssociationis90lawyersinallregions.ThemajorityoftheselawyersarebasedinHargeisa,thecapitalcityofSomaliland.

TheUniversityofHargeisa(UOH)LegalClinic-HumanRightsUnithasbeenprovidingfreelegalaidtopeopleinneedoflegalaidservices,particularlyto,refugees,asylumseekers,returnees,IDPsandextremelyvulnerablemembersofthehostcommunitiesinmatters relating to criminal cases, civil cases, and customary law, and provides

18. The Criminal Procedure Code19. Sources: Ministry of Justice, Somaliland Lawyers Association and the University of Hargeisa. There could be

more cases that are not reported to the Ministry by other legal aid providers. 20. Ministry of Justice, Access to Justice Department 21. Ibid

19

legalcounsellingandmediationswherenecessary.In2018,theLegalClinic-HumanRightsUnit-supportedbyUNHCR–providedlegalaidfor1,334asylumseekersandrefugeesthroughlegalrepresentation,mediation,counselingandreferraltothepoliceand/or other partners and conditional cash-basedShelter support fromJanuary toDecember2018.Femalebeneficiarywere785ofthesecaseswhichequatesto59%,whilemalebeneficiarywere549whichis41%.Inthecaseofnationality,themajorityofbeneficiarieswereEthiopiannationals (1,249),71wereYemeniand7Eritrean;3Syrian;2Congoleseand1PalestinianandBangladeshi.

In addition, the LegalClinic,HumanRightsUnit playeda key role in thepreventionof deportations and arbitrary detentions of Asylum Seekers and Refugees. In thisregard, Legal Clinic, Human Rights Unit updated asylum seekers and refugees onthe human rights situation in the region and conducted 127 detention monitoringactivitiesincludingpolicestationandprisonmonitoringinHargeisa,Berbera,WajaaleandGoroyoAwalBorders,Gabiley,BoramaandBuroain2018.Duringthatperiod110POCsdetaineeswerereportedand106ofthemwerereleasedthroughpoliceinventionandcourtrepresentations,wherethe4remaineddetaineesareconvictedbythecourt.

Thetotalnumberofprosecutorswere46DeputyAttorneysGeneraland15prosecutorsin2017.22Theratiois“oneprosecutortoevery57,000Somalilanders.”23Thisishigherincomparisontojudges.Thejudgesare186,24whichmakesonejudgetoevery18,817citizens.Fundingchallengesimpedetheexpansionofjustice.

Indicator: 16.3.2 Unsentenced detainees as a proportion of the overall prisonpopulation

Somalilandhas14prisons.25Thenumberoftheprisonpopulationwas2,402prisonersin2017.26 In2018,theprisonpopulation is3,753.The largestprisonsareHargeisaCentralPrisonandMandheeraPrison,whichislocatednortheastofHargeisa.Relevantauthorities have not provided a segregated data on the unsentenced detainees. InmanycitiesincludingHargeisa,thecapitalandthemostpopulouscity,unsentenceddetaineesareheldinpolicestations.Thepolicereportedon3rdNovember2018that1,700criminalcaseswerependingbeforethecourts.Atleastoneaccusedpersonisinvolvedineverycase.Inthe2018policereport,unfinishedcriminalcasesrepresented9%ofthetotalcases.

22. Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector Baseline Study Report, Horizon Institute 31 July 201723. Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector Baseline Study Report, Horizon Institute 31 July 201724. Somaliland Judiciary Commission 25. Ministry of Justice26. Informed Investment in Somaliland’s Justice Sector Baseline Study Report, Horizon Institute 31 July 2017

20

S/N Prison Name Male Female Juvenile27

1 Hargeisa 639 ------ 972 Madera 661 ----- 563 Borame 170 9 264 Burao 468 3 305 Las’anod 132 9 276 Cerigabo 311 10 327 Berbera 155 1 128 Gabiley 136 31 139 Baligubadle 51 ---- 1110 Salaxley 52 ------- 811 Ainabo 89 -------- 4012 Ceel-afweyn 136 ------ 1113 Gar-adag 132 4 1914 Dhahar 165 ------- 4

Sub-total 3,315 63 375ThetotalNumberofPrisonerswere3,753inmatesintheyearof201828

Figure 4: Prison population in Somaliland in 2018.

27. Birth certificates are not common in Somaliland. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the age. Hence there is always a dispute about the age, particularly when the accused claims to be a child. Accusations are made that the police inflate age to try children as adults. According to the Juvenile Justice Law, everyone under the age of 15 is a child. Those aged between 15 to 18 do not have full criminal responsibility.

28. Source: Ministry of Justice29. Rule of Law Perception Survey Somaliland, UNDP, December 201630. Ibid

Indicator: 16.3.b Percentage of the population that have a positive perception ofaccesstojustice.

AccordingtotheUNDPJusticePerceptionSurveyReport(2016),the“leveloftrustintheformaljusticesystemintermsofintegritywerebelowaverage”Thesurveyfoundthatthelevel“ofknowledgeofthepresenceofformaljusticeinstitutions(89%)andtheknowledgeoftheroleofjusticeofficials(58%)washigherthanknowledgeofrightsandfreedoms(39%).”Meanwhile,there isgenderdisparity intermsofknowledgewhere“women had significantly lower levels of knowledge of the role of justice officialscomparedtomen.”“Only14%ofrespondentssaidthattheycouldeasilyaccesslegalassistance (free legal aid or lawyers).Thosewhoweremore likely to access suchcentres.”29“Integrityofthepolicewaslow,”butknowledgeoftheservicesofthepolicewashigh,comparedtothecourts,thereportfound“higherpatternsofphysicalaccesstopoliceinstitutions.”30Thesurveysays:

21

Perceptionofqualityofaccesswaslow.Only49%oftherespondentsagreedthatthepolicewouldprovide themassistance ‘atall times’.Suchexpectationswerehigheramongtheuneducated,poorergroupsandthoselocatedinMJandAwdal.56%ofrespondentssaidthattheywouldonlyreportacrimetothepolice,butonly19%statedthattheywouldalsopursueacase.31

Data gaps

Currentlythereislimitedornoavailabledataon:

» the number of peoplewhowere victims of crimes: available data does notcapturethenumberofvictimswhoreportedcrimestotheauthorities.Thedataisratherregisteredasthenumberofcases,recordedfromtheperspectiveoftheaccused.

» thenumberofpeoplewhosoughtjusticefromthecourtsandthepolice

» thecasesresolvedthroughinformalconflictresolutionmechanismssuchascustomarylawandSharialaw-basedadjudications;

» thetotalnumberofdetaineeswhoarenotservinginprisonterms:inmanycitiespolicestationsserveasdetentioncentrestoholdanaccusedpersonatpre-trialandduring trialstages.Thepolice limit the information itshares.Therefore,althoughtheoverallprisonpopulationisknown,thedataofthepeopleinpolicestations is not available. Knowing this data couldmake possible to get theinformationregardingthenumberofdetaineeswhoarenotfoundguiltybyacourt.

» theproportionofcasesthathavereceivedlegalservices:nodataonhowmanyofthemweregivenfreelegalaid.

» financing given to the justice sector, particularly from international and UNagencies.

Effortstoanalysethedataisfurtherhinderedasthemajorityofdataisnotdisaggregatedinto sex and age and other specifications to grasp a better understanding of thesituationinSomaliland.

2. SDG 5.3 - Eliminate all harmful practices, such as child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation

Somalilandhasoneoftheworld’shighestratesofFGM,withUNICEFestimatingthat98%ofwomenaged15to49haveundergonetheprocedure.32LegislationtobanFGM

31. Ibid32. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/mar/29/somaliland-i-convinced-my-sister-not-to-do-type-3-fgm-

on-her-daughter

22

isstillbeingdebated,followingonfromareligiousfatwainFebruary2018thatpartiallyoutlawedFGM.Anewlawwouldonlybethestartingpointinendingthepractise–assignificantresourceswouldneedtobeinvestedineducatingSomaliland’spopulationandcreatingmechanismstoenforcethelegislation.

Given a cultural and religiousmeaning, FGM is a harmful practice that has been apracticeinlongperiodoftimeandiswidespreadinbothruralandurbanareas.Theconstitution of Somaliland (2001) provides a general clause stating that culturalpracticesthatareharmfulshouldbeeliminated,butitdoesnotmentionFGM.AlawspecificallydealingwithFGMdoesnotexist.ThereisnobudgetallocationfromthegovernmentearmarkedforeliminatingFGMorgivingassistancetothesurvivors.Theinterventionsofcivilsociety,internationalorganizationsandUNagencieshavebeenprincipallyonawarenessraising,advocacyandcapacitybuilding.Recentendeavourfrom civil society to strive for enacting a law is ongoing and is yet tomaterialize,requiringstrongadvocacy,bettercoordinationandcommitment.DataonthefinancesfrominternationalorganizationsandUNagenciesonanti-FGMactivitiesandprojectsarenotpubliclyavailableandwerenotfoundduringthedatagathering.

Inthedatagatheringforthistarget,nongovernmentalorganisationsandgovernmentdepartmentswere focused tofindout information.The following internationalnon-governmentalorganizationsandUNagencieswerecontactedandasked toprovidedataandinformationregardingthistargetandtheirfieldofwork:ActionAid,UNICEFandUNFPA.

Indicator:5.3.2Proportionofgirlsandwomenaged15–49yearswhohaveundergonefemalegenitalmutilation/cutting,byage

TheprevalenceofFGMinwomenaged15–49is99.1%.33Cuttingtakesplacewhengirlsarebetweentheagesof4and14.85%ofwomenhaveundergoneTypeIII(‘sewnclosed’/infibulation,alsoreferredtoas‘PharaonicCircumcision’).34Itisperformedbytraditionalpractitionersandmedicalstaffaswell.35Asreportedby28,“69%ofwomenaged15–49whohaveheardofFGMbelieveitshouldbediscontinued.”36

Indicator: 5.3.a Legislation related to criminalising and preventing the practice ofFGM/C

LegislationbanningFGMdoesnot exist inSomaliland.TheNationalGenderPolicyidentifiesFGMasaharmfulpractice.TheMinistryofEmployment,SocialAffairsandFamily, and civil society organizations have been undertaking a process to draft a

33. Somaliland: The Law And FGM, August 2018, 28 34. Ibid35. R. A. Powell and M. Yussuf (2018) Changes in FGM/C in Somaliland: Medical narrative driving shift in types of

cutting. Evidence to End FGM/C: Research to Help Women Thrive. New York: Population Council. Available at http://www.popcouncil.org/uploads/pdfs/2018RH_FGMC-Somaliland.pdf.

36. SOMALILAND: THE LAW AND FGM, August 2018, 28 Too many

23

legislationtoendallformsofFGM.Thedraftlegislationisnotyettabledbeforetheparliamentandcabinet.ThereisaFatwafromtheMinistryofReligiousaffairsbanningthemostextremeformsofFGMbutnotbanningeveryformoftheprocedure.DuetothelackofalawcriminalizingFGM,therearenoprosecutionsrelatedtoFGM.

3. SDG16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements

Open and freemedia is imperative for any democratic society to thrive and attainsustainable development. Somaliland's constitution enshrines the freedom of thepressasanessentialpartofthecountry'sdemocracy.37ThegovernmentofSomalilandrepresentedbytheMinistryofInformationandmediaprofessionalorganizationsandcivilsocietyorganizationsareworkingtowardsdraftingalegislationapplicabletothemedia.Thegovernmentbudgetdoesnotincludesupportfortheprotectionandtrainingofjournalists.Internationalandnationalnongovernmentorganizationsareengagedingivingshorttermtraining.Butin2017,thefirstjournalismfacultyhasbeenopenedbytheUniversityofHargeisaincollaborationwiththejournalist’sassociationandadonor.

Thereportacknowledgesthatithasbecomedifficulttoreporttheaccessibilityofthepublictoinformation.Thenextreportwillcoverthestatutoryand/orpolicyguaranteesforpublicaccesstoinformation.

In the data gathering for this target, nongovernmental organisations, governmentdepartments and the judiciarywere focused to find out information.The followinginternationalnon-governmentalorganizationsandUNagencieswerecontactedandasked toprovidedataand information regarding this targetand theirfieldofwork:Horizon,UNSOMandUNDP.

Indicator: Number of statutory and/or policy guarantees for public access toinformation

The Constitution of Somaliland and the Press Act (2004) guarantee and protectfreedomofmedia.Aprocessofdraftingacomprehensivemediaacthasbeencarriedoutin2018toamendthePressAct.ConsultationworkshopswereheldinHargeisafordifferentstakeholders.Thedraftmedialawcoversawiderangeofmediaissuesandisintendedtoresolvemediaandgovernmentfrictions.TheUniversityofHargeisaopenedthefirstjournalismdegreeinSomalilandtocontributeimprovementofmediaprofessionalismandethics.

Indicator: Number of verified cases of arbitrary detention journalists, associatedmedia personnel, trade unionists and human rights advocates in the previous 12months

37. NDPII p121

24

In2018,28journalistswerearrestedbytheauthorities,and10ofthemwerechargedwith criminal cases.38 All were released. There is no journalist currently in prison.AccordingtotheSomalilandJournalistsAssociation,theaveragedaysindetentionforarrestedjournalistsare2daysandahalf.

Indicator:16.10.aNumberofverifiedcasesofapermanentprohibitiononindividualspractisingjournalism,thecancellationoflicencesintheprevious12months

In2018,fourmediaoutletswerebanned.Waaberinewspaperwasbannedon19thJune2018bycourtorder,SOMNEWSandSBStelevisionswereorderedtohaltoperationson29thMay2018bytheMinistryofinformation,andcourtinHargeisaissuedadecisionsuspendingFoorenewspaperinayear.WaaberinewspaperandSOMNewstelevisionwerereinstatedbytheappealcourtandbytheMinisterofInformationrespectively.

Indicator:16.10.4FreedomofthePressindexscore

2018FreedomHousereporthasasectiononSomalilandwhichmarkedSomalilandasfollowing:

Somaliland: Partly Free (43/100)39

Aggregate rating: 4.5/7Political rights: 4/7Civil liberties: 5/7(1=mostfree,7=leastfree)

Inthe2017index,Somalilandwasalsomarkedparltyfreewithascoreof40/10040

whichshowsthatinthepast12monthsthesituationhasbeenworsening.

4. SDG 5.5 - Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life

TheconstitutionofSomalilandemphasisesgenderequality,prohibitsdiscriminationandobligesensuringfullparticipationofwomeninleadership.NDPIItargetsincreasingwomen's participation in leadership. Yet, women face difficulties in having full andeffectiveparticipationandequalopportunities for leadershippositions.AproposedquotaforwomenintheHouseofRepresentativeswhichwasrejectedbytheParliamenthasbeenagaintabledbeforetheParliamentinanattempttopushparticipation.Butevenifitisapproveditguaranteesonly20%intheHouseofRepresentatives,leavingmanychallengesunaddressed.

38. Somaliland Journalists Association and Human Rights Centre annual reports of 201839. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2018/somaliland40. https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2017/somaliland

25

In the data gathering for this target, nongovernmental organisations, governmentdepartments and the judiciarywere focused to find out information.The followinginternationalnon-governmentalorganizationsandUNagencieswerecontactedandasked toprovidedataand information regarding this targetand theirfieldofwork:Saferworld,UNDP,UNFPAandtheNorwegianRefugeeCouncil(NRC).

Under this target, this report doesnot includedataon theproportionofwomen inmanagerialpositionsintheprivatesector,theperceptionofthepublicandthenumberoflegislationspromotingwomen’sparticipationandremovinggenderdiscrimination.Itisanticipatedthatthenextreporttocovertheseissuesinfurtherdepth.

Indicator:5.5.1Proportionofseatsheldbywomenin(a)nationalparliamentsand(b)localgovernments

InSomaliland,thereis:

• 1femalememberoftheHouseofRepresentatives(outof82members).• 0femalemembersoftheGuurti,HouseofElders(outof82members).• 0femalemayorsinthe23districtsofthecountry.• Just 9 female district councillors out of 305 seats, which equates to just 3%womeninthecouncils.41

• 0femalegovernorsordeputygovernorsoutof13governorsand13deputies.

Indicator:5.5.2Proportionofwomeninmanagerialpositions

InSomaliland,thereis:

• 1 director general (the equivalent of permanent secretary) in Somaliland'sministerialdepartmentsoutof25positions.

• 1femalewhoisheadofagovernmentcommission,agencyorauthorityoutof21;and

• Women constitute 25% of civil servants.42 With evidence suggesting that themajorityofthemworkinlowerrankingoffices.43

5.5.aProportionofwomeninleadershippositionsinpoliticalpositions

Somalilandhasthreepoliticalparties.Eachpartyhasaseniorleadershipconsistingofchairperson,deputiesandsecretarygeneral.Thereisonlyonedeputychairwomanacrossthethreeparties.In2012localgovernmentcouncillors’election,2088candidatescompetedfor305seats.Therewere135femalecandidates,whichconstitutes6.4%oftotalcandidates.44Only9wereelected,whichconstitutesjust2.9%ofthetotalseats.45

41. Somaliland: A Male Democracy, Centre for Policy Analysis, November 201842. Somaliland Civil Services Commission, 2018 report 43. Somaliland: A Male Democracy, Centre for Policy Analysis, November 201844. National Electoral Commission data45. The last election for the local councils happened in 2012

26

Inthe2005HouseofRepresentativeselection,7womenranforoffice46andonlytwowereelected(2%oftotalseats).47

5.5.bProportionofwomeninthecurrentcabinetpositions

The total of current cabinetmembers is 32.Women have two fullministers and adeputyminister(9%outoftotalseats).ThepreviousgovernmentwhichhandedoverpowerinDecember2017had2womencabinetmembers.

Data gaps

Currentlythereislimitedornoavailabledataon:

• the number of women in senior leadership in the private sector and thenongovernmentalorganizations;

• thefundingprovidedbyinternationalorganizationsandUNagenciesongender-relatedprojects;

• Thedisaggregatedpositionsofwomenwhoarecivilservants.

Information not being shared

Thereportauthorscontactedawiderangeofnationalandinternationalorganisationsinordertogatherasmuchrelevantdataaspossibletoinformthisprogressreport(seeAnnex).However,internationalorganisationsandUNagencieswerenotforthcomingin sharing important data.Many organizations keep survey reports as confidential,although these reports carry important information and data. This makes hard tounderstand theprogress thathasbeenmadeandwhateachorganization isdoing.To better understand progress and gaps, it is imperative to know financial flows.Organizationsarenottransparentonspecificsofprojectsandfunding.Aweaknessofinformationsharingwithinorganizations(local,internationalandUN)complicatethesituationandmightleadoverlapofresourcespendingandprojectimplementations.

46. Source: Nagaad Women Organizations Umbrella 47. The last parliamentary election happened in 2005.

27

a) Conclusion

ThisprogressreportbySomalilandSDG16+CoalitiondemonstratesthatSomalilandhasmadelaudableachievementsdespitebigchallengesincapacityandresourcestoimplementtheambitious2030Agenda.Ifthechallengesandgapsoutlinedinthisreportareaddressedandcriticalfactorsthatarekeyforsuccessareutilized,Somalilandcanmakeafurtherandsteadfastprogress.Butthiswillrequirecohesiveandtransparentcooperationandconcretecommitmentandwillingnessfromallstakeholders.

The National Development Plan II of Somaliland recognizes and endorses someSDG16+ targets, and the government has expressed willingness to work towardsacceptingandcontextualizingtheSDGs.AlthoughtheNDPII isnotareplicaof theSDGs,Somalilandisaheadofmanycountriesinlinkingitsdevelopmentplanwiththe2030Agenda.

CivilsocietyorganizationshaveplayedavitalroleinlocalizingSDDG16+andcarryingout inclusive initiatives to identify priorities and bring together stakeholders tocooperateinrealizingSDG16+.TheyhaveworkedtoincreasetheawarenessamongthepublicanddecisionmakersaroundSDG16+issues,inbothlocalandinternationalplatforms.A localizationprocesshas takenaparticular route thatcouldhelpothercountries’localisationprocesses.

TherealizationoftheSDGswillrequireconsistentandbetterstrategizedfundingfromthegovernmentandothersourcesincludingdonorsandtheprivatesector.Thereisafundinggapthatishinderingattainingmarkedgoals.ExistinglimitedfundingsourcesarenotwellcoordinatedandarerarelyallocatedonthebasisofSDGstargets.Thereisaneedtosupport thestrengtheningof thecapacityofgovernmentagenciesandcivilsocietyorganizations taskedwith implementingandmonitoring theSDGs.ThegovernmentofSomalilandlacksarealmechanismtoreporttotheHigh-LevelPoliticalForum(HLPF).Institutionsarechallengedbyabsenceofreliabledataandlackofdatasharingwhenthereisadata.Datasharingmechanismswithingovernmentinstitutionsandbetweenthegovernmentandthecivilsocietyisveryweak.Existingcivilsocietydataisnotusedforofficialmonitoring.

AvailabilityofdataisverylimitedinSomaliland.Thereisnocentralizedsystemandstandardtorecordofficialdata.Departmentswithdatadonotdocumentinaneasilyaccessiblemanner. There are questions on the accuracy of official data and datawithcivilsociety.Transparencytoshareinformationwiththepublic,particularly,civilsocietyisahardandlegalframeworkfortherighttoinformationismissing.Technicalandfinancialchallengesincludebarriersfacinggovernmentagenciestocollectdata.There isnomonitoringpolicy inplace.Hencecoordinatedandstrategicmonitoringandevaluationdonotexist.ThisallhindersimplementationoftheSDGsandSDG16+,asitishardtoassesswherethegapsare,whatimplementationishavinganimpact,andwhatneedstobescaled-up.

PART C: CONCLUSIONSAND RECOMMENDATIONS

28

Thefollowingtablesummarisesachievementsmade,challenges,gapsandthecriticalfactorsthatarekeyforsuccess:

Achievements Challenges Gaps Critical factors for successSDGsareintheNDPII:targetsandindicatorsoftheSDGshavebeenincorporated intheNationalDevelopmentPlanII(NDPII).

ThereisamajorbudgetgapiftheNDPIIistobeimplemented

Collectionofdataforkeytargetsbasedonidentifiedindicators.

Supportforsubnationalandlocalisedimplementationeffortsofallstakeholders

Thereisweakcapacityingovernmentandcivilsocietytomonitorand implement the agenda

Monitoringcapabilitiesforauthorities

CreationandstrengtheningofmechanismforSomalilandauthoritiesandcivilsocietytoreporttotheUN;

CivilsocietyhavebeenconsultedonSDG16+priorities

Weakcoordination,leading to potential duplicationbetweencivilsociety,governmentdepartments,andUNagencies.

Improvementofstakeholdercoordinationinvolvinggovernmentinstitutions,UNagencies,civilsocietyorganizationsandinternationalorganizations,andestablishmentofcollaborationandcooperation.

CSOsareusingtheSDG16+intheiradvocacyandpublicmessaging.

Absenceofreliabledatatoassesstruemeasuresofprogress

Trusted,long-termresourcestreamsonSDG16+prioritytargets

NomechanismforthegovernmentofSomalilandtoreportonitsprogress

Supportfordatagathering.

29

b) Recommendations

Thegovernment,nationalcivil society, internationalorganizationsandUNagencieshave different roles to play in implementing SDG16+. A thorough understandingisneededofwhat interventionsare takingplace inSomaliland tocontribute to theachievementofSDG16+.Ensuringthattheseeffortsarethenfurthercoordinatedwillbeanimportantfactorforsuccessinthecomingyears.Itisalsoessentialtocooperateandsharedata.TheMinistryofDevelopmentandNationalPlanning(MoNPD)shouldmandateprovisionofdatacollectedby INGOsandLocalNGOsandstrengthen thecapacity of its StatisticsDepartment. TheMoNPDshouldmakedata available forthe public, and the Parliament should enact Right to Information Act. Civil societyorganizations (CSOs), international organizations and UN agencies should supportandcapacitatetheStatisticsDepartmentandothergovernmentagenciesandincludeSDG16+prioritiesinSomalilandintotheirstrategicplansandactivities.UNagenciesshouldbetransparentinprovidingdatafortheprogramsandbudgetsimplementedinthecountrywithdisaggregatedperregiontobuildonachievementsmadeandtobemonitored,andprovidesupportSDG16+localisationprocess.

Somaliland Government (Executive Branch)

SDG16+ Implementation Process:

1. The Office of the President should convene representatives of relevantgovernmentagencies,UNagenciesoperatinginthecountry,andcivilsocietytoreviewprogress,gaps,andchallengesonSDG16+implementationinSomaliland.

2. MinistryofPlanningandNationalDevelopment(MoNPD)shouldmandatethatINGOsandLocalNGOsprovidedatacollectedfortheirprojectstotheStatisticsDepartmentforcompilation.

3. MoNPD should strengthen the Statistics Department to collect, analyse andpubliclyreleaseinformationregardingSDG16+fromthegovernmentagencies.

4. HouseofRepresentativeshouldintroducetheRighttoInformationActsothatitwillbemandatoryforgovernmentandcivilsocietytoprovideinformationtothepublic

5. MoNPDshouldaskINGOsandLocalNGOstocopydonorreportstotheMinistrysimilartotheEUinitiativeaskingtheirimplementingpartnerstoprovideacopyoftheirreportstoMoNPD–toallowforthedatacollectiononSDGs

30

SDG 16.3 - Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all:

1. IncreasebudgetallocationsforthejusticesectorsuchastheJudiciaryandtheMinistryofJustice legalaidandaccess to justice initiativesand increase theavailabilityoflegalaidlawyersforthosewhocannotaffordtohirelawyers;

2. Greaterbudgetallocationformobilecourts;

3. Reviewdatacollectionmechanismsforthejudiciaryandthepoliceandmakethedatapubliclyavailable;

4. Adoptcriminaljusticepolicytocoordinatejusticesectoractivitiesandstrategiesandadoptarehabilitationapproachtopreventovercrowdingprisons;

5. ReviewandreformoutdatedlawsthatpredatetheConstitutionofSomaliland.TheselawsshouldincludethePenalCodeandtheCriminalProcedureCode;

6. Reform thePolice in compliancewith theConstitutionofSomalilandand theinternationalhumanrightsstandards,andcreateanindependentpoliceoversightandjudicialaccountability.

SDG 5.3 - Eliminate all female genital mutilation:

1. Allocate funds for anti-FGM activities and increase public awareness, andestablishcoordinatedmessagetoavoidconflictingmessages;

2. PrepareandsubmittotheParliamentAnti-FGMActthatprohibitsallformsofFGM.

SDG 16.10 - Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms, in accordance with national legislation and international agreements:

1. ImplementthePressAct(2004)andarticle32oftheConstitutionofSomalilandonissuesofmediatodecriminalizemediaandstoparrestsandshuttingdownofmediahouses;

2. Support education and training for media professionals and promote self-regulatorymechanismtohandlecomplaints;

SDG 5.5 - Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision making in political, economic and public life

1. Adopt33%quotaforwomeninallorgansandagenciesincludingforbothhousesoftheParliament,localcouncils,thecabinetandexecutiveappointments;

2. Increase women’s full and effective participation in leadership by creatinginclusivedecisionmaking,genderequalityandendinggenderdiscrimination.

31

Somaliland Parliament

1. ApprovetheLegalAidBill;

2. Enactalawthatgovernsalternativedisputeresolutionmechanisms;

3. EnactAnti-FGMActthatprohibitsallformsofFGM;

4. EnactRighttoInformationAct;

5. Review the JudiciaryOrganizationActwith provisions strengthening judiciaryindependenceincludingsecuretenureforSupremeCourtjudges.

Somaliland Judiciary Commission

1. Increasethenumberofjudgesandprosecutorsanddeployinareasthatdonothaveajudicialpresence;

2. Appointwomenlawyersasjudges;

3. Createananti-corruptionmechanismthatissupportiveofeasypublicreportingofirregularitiesandsimplifiedcomplaintsystem;

4. Increaseaccessibilityofjusticeinstitutionstoruralandnomadiccommunities;

5. Createanonlinesystemforallregionssothatcourtscanmonitorcaseprogress.

National civil society

1. Should produce SDG16+ progress reports every two years to build a base ofevidencetohelpsupportofficialaccountabilityefforts;

2. Should provide an annual report to Somaliland authorities on their efforts toimplementtheSDGs;

3. Should build SDG16+ priorities in Somaliland into their strategic plans andactivities;

4. Shouldmakealldatapubliclyavailable;

5. Shouldsupport the implementationof the recommendationsprovidedby thisreport.

32

UN Agencies (in-country and headquarters)

1. Shouldbetransparentinprovidingdatafortheprogramsandbudgetsimplementedinthecountrywithdisaggregatedperregiontobuildonachievementsmadeandtobemonitored;

2. ShouldcloselycollaborateandbuildthecapacityofthestatisticsdepartmentattheMinistryofNationalPlanningandDevelopment;

3. ShouldsupportlocalandsubnationalcivilsocietyorganisationswitheffortstolocaliseSDG16+agenda;

4. Shouldmakealldatapubliclyavailable;

5. Shouldprovidesupporttotheexpansionofjusticetorural,internallydisplacedandothervulnerablegroups;

6. Supporthumanrights-basedreformsthatarebasedonhumanrightsstandards;

7. Shouldsupportimplementationoftherecommendationsprovidedbythisreport.

International partners

1. ShouldcommitresourcestostrengthenthecapacityofMoNPDtomonitorandreviewprogresstoachievingSDG16+;

2. Should include specific reporting commitments around progress towardsdeliveringtheSDGsforallgrantsforworkandactivitiesinSomaliland;

3. Shouldsupportcivilsocietyeffortstoraiseawarenessof,andmobilisearound,theSDG16+agendainSomaliland.ThisshouldnotjustbefocusedinHargeisabutinstead,reachall6regionsofSomaliland;

4. Shouldmakealldatapubliclyavailable;

5. Shouldprovidesupporttotheexpansionofjusticetorural,internallydisplacedandothervulnerablegroups;

6. Supporthumanrights-basedreformsthatarebasedonhumanrightsstandards;

7. Shouldsupportimplementationoftherecommendationsprovidedbythisreport.

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Annex 1

1. Somaliland Non-State Actors Forum(SONSAF)

2. Somaliland Youth OrganizationsUmbrella(SONYO)

3. NetworkAgainstFGM(NAFIS)4. HumanRightsCentreSomaliland(HRC)5. NAGAADWomenUmbrella6. Acedemy for Peace and Development

(APD)7. Somaliland Journalists Association

(SOLJA)8. SONDO,9. Somaliland National Disability Forum

(SNDF)10. Social Research and Development

Institute(SORADI)11. Somaliland Youth Peer Education

Network(Y-PEER)12. Horn Youth Development Association

(HYDA)13. CentreforPolicyAnalysis(CPA)14. Taakulo Somaliland Community

(TASCO)15. AdemAcademy16. SomalilandWomenLawyersAssocation

(SWLA)17. Barwaaqo Voluntery Organizations

(BVO)18. Somaliland Youth Development

Assocation(SOYDA)19. SomalilandYouthSociety(SYS-Burao)20. Somaliland Youth Development and

VoluntaryOrganization(SOYDAVO)21. SolidarityYouthVoluntaryOrganization

(SOYVO)22. UnitedTogdherAssociation(UNITA)23. Kulmis24. SomalilandDiasporaAgency(SDA),25. YouthVolunteersforDevelopmentand

EnvironmentConservation(YOVENCO)

26. YADVO,27. General Assistance and Volunteer

Organization(GAVO),28. AfricaYouthDevelopmentAssociation

(AYODA),29. Center for Consultancy and Research

Development(CCORD),30. SCRD,31. SomalilandCaynAssociation(SCA),32. Dalkaab,33. Sool United Non-Governmental

Organization(SUNGO),34. Horseed,35. Somaliland Community Development

Association(CDA),36. Somaliland Women Enterpeneur

Association(SLWEA),37. Committee of Concerned Somalis

(CCS)38. Somalis Against Violent Extremism

(SAVE)39. HornAid,40. SIHAAction,41. SahilWomenBusinessAssociation42. RoyalInstitute,43. ChamberofCommerce,44. EastAfricaLawFirm(EALF),45. SomalilandMedicalAssociation(SMA),46. TheGirlsGeneration(TGG),47. MuslimCollege,48. HiigsiHogan,49. NUGALUniversity,50. SanaagUniversity,51. GolisUniversity,52. AlphaUniversity,53. BerberaMarine,54. UniveristyofHargeisaUniversity,55. AmoudUniversity

ListofcivilsocietyorganizedwhoattendedconsultationstocollectcivilsocietyprioritiesforSDG16+actioninSomaliland

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Annex 2: Data gathering

1. TheOfficeoftheChiefJusticeandtheJudiciaryCommission(16.3,16.10)2. MinistryofJustice(16.3,16.10)3. TheMinistryofJustice4. MinistryofPlanning(16.3,16.7)5. MinistryofHealth(5.3)6. MinistryofSocialAffairs(5.2,5.3)7. MinistryofInformation(16.10)8. MinistryofReligiousAffairs(5.3)9. MinistryofInterior(16.3,16.10)10. BaahiKoob(5.2)11. NationalElectoralCommission(NEC)(5.5)12. PoliticalParties(Kulmiye,WaddaniandUCID)(5.5)13. UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)(16.3,16.7,16.10,5.5)14. UnitedNationsChildren’sFund(UNICEF)(5.3)15. UnitedNationsPopulationsFund(UNFPA)(16.3.5.3,5.5)16. UnitedNationsAssistanceMissioninSomalia(UNSOM)(16.3,16.7,16.10)17. PENHA(5.5)18. SavetheChildren(5.3)19. Horizon(16.3)20. Axiom(16.3)21. NorwegianRefugeeCouncil(NRC)(16.3,5.5)22. SaferWorld(16.7,5.5)23. NetworkAgainstFGMinSomaliland(NAFISNetwork)(5.3)24. Waapo(5.2)25. NagaadNetwork(5.3,5.5,16.7)26. SomalilandNonStateActorsForum(SONSAF)(16.7,16.10,5.5)27. CentreforPolicyAnalysis(CPA)(16.7,5.3,5.5)28. ComprehensiveCommunityBasedRehabilitationinSomaliland(CCBRS)(5.2)29. SomalilandNationalYouthOrganization(SONYO)(16.10,5.5)30. SomalilandJournalistsAssociation(16.10,16.7)31. WomeninJournalismAssociation(WIJA)(16.10,16.7)32. SomalilandNationalDisabilityForum(SNDF)(16.7)33. UniversityofHargeisaLegalClinic(16.3)34. SomalilandWomenLawyersAssociation(16.3)35. SomalilandLawyersAssociation(16.3)36. HumanRightsCentre(16.10,5.3)

Thefollowinginstitutionswerecontactedforthedatagathering:InstitutionsandTargets

36