Victim Assistance Assessment Report in Somalia

This report was commissioned by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Somalia and the Somali Explosive Management Authority (SEMA) to identify gaps in assistance to victims of explosive hazards which the mine action sector could help to fill. It examines support to victims of explosive hazards within the context of support to persons with disabilities (PwD) and their families. It draws on research conducted from mid-September to mid-December through document review, discussions via Skype and in-person with over 100 national and international stakeholders, and visits to the Federal Member States (FGS). The methodology adopted a gendered, inclusive and participatory approach to provide as representative a picture as possible, although insecurity and time constraints restricted how and where research could be conducted. Unless otherwise stated, the contents of this report is based on the views and information provided by respondents.

Victim Assistance is one of the five mine action pillars articulated in the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APBMC), the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and related policy documents and UN Resolutions. The victim assistance concept is compatible with the social model of disability which focuses on removing the barriers preventing persons with disabilities from participating fully in socioeconomic life, and the rights-based model of disability promoted through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).