From September 2017 to July 2020, DDG implemented The Time is Now: Strengthening Police Accountability and Access to Justice in Somalia programme in South Central Somalia. The programme sought to enable a more community-focused, effective and accountable police architecture in line with the New Police Model, make traditional conflict resolution mechanisms more representative and better aligned with the formal justice sector while also strengthening their capacity to solve civil disputes. The project was implemented in the following 10 districts: Dollow, Belet-Hawa, Luuq, Kismayo, Baidoa, Xudur, Wajid, Jowhar, Beletweyne and Warsheikh.
These lessons learnt report covers the positive impact of the programme as well as the unintended consequence and what could be done differently in future access to justice programming.
- Joint training session on the new policing model, basic policing doctrine and human rights issues enhanced both police and community awareness and knowledge of their respective roles in improving and maintaining security in their districts.
- The programme improved police officers’ knowledge and understanding of human rights and how it applies to their mandate and duties.
- Increased interactions between communities and police were instrumental in maintaining peace and stability and reducing the threat of Al-Shabab. Regular meeting forums gave space for security updates and discussions of communal concern and complaints against the police.
- Memorandums of understanding (MOUs) between police and civilian oversight committees, prompted by the forums, gave the committees legitimacy to act as intermediaries between communities and police and inspect prison facilities, engage detainees and also work with police to address community concerns.
- The inclusion of women helped to revamp Guurti Plus. However, female participants in focus group discussions expressed little or no confidence in it as an effective mechanism to handle SGBV cases.
The capability of police and the Guurti Plus to resolve conflicts and disputes improved, resulting in an increase in case referrals and resolutions. Police support to Guurti Plus when resolving clan and land conflicts and detaining perpetrators increased communities’ confidence.