The AMISOM report is due in the Council in January, and planning is underway for a UN mission in Somalia. In light of the grave humanitarian situation in Somalia, the Security Council’s discussion on such a mandate should:

• Take immediate steps to protect civilians, particularly women, such as disarmament and small arms embargo enforcement.
• Provide necessary measures to ensure the rights of women and women’s rights defenders.
• Provide well-resourced and politically-supported gender advice in the mission to meet the needs of women in Somalia, and to engage with civil society members in the country, including supporting women’s inclusion in all levels of decision making.
• Ensure that all peacekeeping troops deployed to the region are trained regarding specific mandates on women, peace and security, and on protection.

The AMISOM report is due in the Council in January, and planning is underway for a UN mission in Somalia. In light of the grave humanitarian situation in Somalia, the Security Council’s discussion on such a mandate should:

• Take immediate steps to protect civilians, particularly women, such as disarmament and small arms embargo enforcement.
• Provide necessary measures to ensure the rights of women and women’s rights defenders.
• Provide well-resourced and politically-supported gender advice in the mission to meet the needs of women in Somalia, and to engage with civil society members in the country, including supporting women’s inclusion in all levels of decision making.
• Ensure that all peacekeeping troops deployed to the region are trained regarding specific mandates on women, peace and security, and on protection.