Professional Documents
Culture Documents
SHOT LIST:
1. Wide shot, youths in Baidoa attend a forum on youth and justice in Somalia
9. Wide shot, Amanda Felipe, Judicial Affairs Adviser, Joint Justice Correction Section
at UNSOM talking to the youth at the forum
Indeed, I am very happy to attend the one-day meeting on youth and justice system
in Somalia. A good number of youth participated in the forum. They [the youth] have
benefited from the forum which focused on justice, law, traditional elders,
traditional justice system and the formal justice system. We have also learnt the
importance of formal and traditional justice system and how it affects the youth.
17. Wide shot, Amanda Felipe, Judicial Affairs Adviser, Joint Justice Correction
Section at UNSOM talking to the youth at the forum
STORY
Organized by the UNSOM Rule of Law and Security Institutions Group, the forum
brought together youth, civil society organizations, the UN and other experts on
Somalias justice system.
The forum offered participants a platform to exchange views on that system and
how young people can be agents of change in their communities. A similar forum
was also held in the Jubbaland state capital of Kismaayo.
The youth have benefited from the forum, which focused on the traditional justice
system and the formal justice system. We have also learnt the importance of formal
and traditional justice system to the youth, said Mohamed Ali Hassan of the Somali
Women Development Center, a non-governmental organization dealing in legal
issues.
Some of the speakers at the forum noted that the potential of young Somalis to
resolve conflicts has not been fully tapped within the traditional justice system,
which remains a popular mechanism for settling disputes in the country.
Somalias population mostly consists of the youth, and they have a huge potential
in contributing to changes in the justice system, explained Amanda Felipe, an
UNSOM Judicial Affairs Advisor in the Joint Justice and Correction Section.
The traditional justice system plays a key role in solving conflicts and maintaining
peace within Somali communities on account of its accessibility and perceived
legitimacy. However, many youths feel the traditional justice system has not
protected their rights and ensured equality of treatment.
The formal justice system does not represent a viable alternative for young Somalis
because it is perceived as being too weak in most parts of Somalia.
The youth we invited shared their views on how they can make positive change in
the formal and informal justice systems and what they can do to put whatever they
said into action, remarked Ms. Felipe at the conclusion of the forum.
END