SOMALIA: Amnesty urges "central role" for human rights activists
NAIROBI, 17 July 2003 (IRIN) - The rights group Amnesty International (AI) has called for human rights defenders to be given a central role in the ongoing peace process in Somalia.

"Civil society in Somalia, and particularly human rights defenders with a track record of activism, must be supported and empowered, and given a strong participatory role in the transitional period," it said in a statement issued on Thursday.

"Faction leaders must be pressed to affirm and demonstrate commitment to human rights," it added.MORE