A/HRC/RES/45/27 Recognizing the sustained and vital commitment of the African Union Mission in Somalia and the loss and sacrifice of personnel killed in action, and recognizing also that the Mission is creating the conditions for Somalia to establish political institutions and to extend State authority, which are key to laying the foundations for a staged transfer of security responsibility to Somali security forces, Recognizing also the role that women have played and will continue to play in community mobilization and peacebuilding in Somali society, the need to take special measures to end gender-based violence and all other forms of violence in situations of armed conflict, to end impunity and to prosecute those responsible for violence against women and girls, and the importance of promoting their economic empowerment and participation in political and public decision-making processes, including within Parliament and at all levels of government, in accordance with Security Council resolution 1325 (2000) of 31 October 2000 on women and peace and security, Recognizing further the increased proactiveness of the Federal Government of Somalia in strengthening the promotion and protection of human rights at the federal and federal Member State levels through its Ministry for Women and Human Rights Development, including its advocacy and implementation of human rights commitments in Somalia and its engagement with the international human rights system, Recognizing that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic represents an additional and profound challenge to the difficulties already presented by natural disasters to the health system and the socioeconomic and humanitarian situation in Somalia, as well as to social cohesion owing to increased stigma experienced by those affected, and recognizing also that the secondary effects of the pandemic have disproportionately affected those in vulnerable situations and women and girls, Noting the important role played by women as first responders to the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of women’s meaningful participation in recovery and relief, 1. Welcomes the commitment of the Federal Government of Somalia to improve the situation of human rights in Somalia, and in that regard also welcomes: (a) The enactment in February 2020 of the Electoral Law, which represents a significant step forward, and the resolution of key outstanding issues by the Federal Parliament, in collaboration with the National Independent Electoral Commission, including the definition of constituencies, the allocation of seats to constituencies, the implementation of a quota of 30 per cent of seats for women, to which Somalia has committed, and the representation of Banadir and Somaliland; (b) The reaffirmation in September 2019 by the Federal Government of Somalia, through the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, of its commitment to fulfil its international obligations to promote universal respect for and the protection of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of association and union rights, and, furthermore, the Ministry’s willingness to engage and cooperate with the International Labour Organization to advance social and economic justice by adhering to international labour standards; (c) The enforcement by the Attorney General’s Office of an order of the Banadir Regional Court, following a petition submitted by the National Union of Somali Journalists, through the appointment on 8 September 2020 of a special prosecutor, to investigate and prosecute those responsible for killing journalists in Somalia as a step in the right direction to put an end to impunity for crimes committed against Somali journalists and to hold perpetrators accountable; (d) The progressive improvement in the human rights context in Somalia, not least through progress towards the ambitious goals set out in the New Partnership for Somalia and the National Development Framework of Somalia to promote stability and development with respect for human rights, as set out in the 2017–2019 human rights scorecard of the Federal Government of Somalia by, inter alia, strengthening the rule of law, promoting inclusivity in political decision-making, particularly for women and girls, young persons, minorities and persons with disabilities, delivering a constitutional settlement that guarantees freedoms of 2