MOGADISHU, Dec. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations in Somalia joined the international community in marking Human Rights Day on Tuesday by commending the Somali government for its recent achievements in promoting and protecting the rights of all people.

James Swan, acting special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia, said notable among these achievements in the past year is the signing of the Somali National Disability Rights Protection Act into law.

"Somalia can rightly take pride in the welcome and positive step forward with the Disability Rights Protection Act -- it will serve to eliminate barriers to the full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities and their full inclusion in society," Swan said in a statement issued in the Somali capital of Mogadishu.

"It will also provide them with a legal framework for protection and support in terms of participation in public affairs and access to service opportunities," Swan added.

The theme of this year's observance is "Our Rights, Our Future, Right Now," with a focus on how human rights are a pathway to solutions, as they play a critical role as a preventative, protective, and transformative force for good, particularly in times of crises.

Swan said the government this year also worked with international human rights mechanisms such as the Human Rights Committee, which reviews how states implement the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, one of the key cornerstones of international law for protecting human rights.

He said the UN will continue its role of supporting the Somali government and civil society organizations through the Joint Program on Human Rights Phase II, which is the only program of its type in Somalia.

The UN official said the program is aimed at the protection of human rights in Somalia through legal reforms, community empowerment, and institutional capacity building. Enditem

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