The Somali population has been suffering from serious violations of human rights and humanitarian law combined with impunity and lack of accountability for more than 20 years. Judges and journalists have become the target of violence and extrajudicial killings.
Clan disputes, protests, the weakness of the national forces, the gradual withdrawal of the African Union Mission in Somalia, Islamic State and continuing Al Shabaab attacks cause insecurity and instability across Somalia. The collapse of government institutions and the humanitarian crisis have resulted in massive displacement and migration of Somalis to other countries. Internally displaced persons still lack access to humanitarian assistance and face human rights abuses such as evictions from settlements, rape and sexual violence.
It is impossible for workers to enjoy their rights in a country where governmental institutions have fundamentally failed to hold those who are responsible for systematic violations of human rights and humanitarian law accountable. Respect for the rule of law is essential when it comes to the protection of the rights of workers. It is estimated that there are 5.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Somalia.
The ITUC affiliate in Somalia is the Federation of Somali Trade Unions (FESTU).
Somalia ratified Convention No. 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (1948) in 2014 and Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining (1949) in 2014.