A/HRC/48/11 The country’s move towards debt relief and the prospect of access to concessional financing were additional significant developments in that regard. 9. Another key milestone was the establishment of the anti-corruption commission. The Commission was constitutionally mandated to address corruption and put in place zerotolerance policies, which required sustained and concerted efforts. It would work with the federal member states and all the relevant stakeholders to ensure that corruption was jointly addressed at all levels of government, and with all the relevant stakeholders. 10. The Government was considering moving towards the ratification of treaties such as the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime. Such processes took time, and it was important to hold broad consultations and ensure that the public was cognizant of the value for Somalia of becoming a State party. However, as stated during its universal periodic review session in the second cycle, Somalia was not currently in a position to ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. 11. Regarding international human rights mechanisms, the delegation stated that engaging with international human rights treaty bodies offered opportunities for inclusive self-review of the human rights situation on the ground and for the identification of areas for improvement. Although Somalia had finalized reports for the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the Human Rights Committee and the Committee against Torture, the backlog of reports, including for the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, remained; the Government intended to prioritize those reports. The processes for at least one of those reports would be carried out by 2022. 12. The Government was setting up a dedicated unit within the Ministry of Women and Human Rights Development to function as a national mechanism for reporting and followup. The unit would be charged with coordinating and preparing reports and engaging with treaty bodies and special procedure mandate holders and in the universal periodic review. It would also track and follow up on the implementation of human rights treaty recommendations and obligations. It would work with relevant line ministries, the parliament, the judiciary, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations. 13. Somalia had facilitated at least four country visits of the Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Somalia since 2016. However, due to travel restrictions related to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the planned next visit was postponed, and would be rescheduled as circumstances allowed. 14. In March 2021, Somalia ratified the Violence and Harassment Convention, 2019 (No. 190) of the International Labour Organization, becoming the second African country to do so, and six other International Labour Organization conventions. 15. With respect to the pandemic, the Federal Government and the private sector had been forced to adjust the way work was conducted, in order to halt the spread of COVID-19. While citizens were encouraged to follow the Federal Government’s directives to maintain social distancing, that was an enormous challenge for many, especially in internally displaced camps, densely populated settlements and crowded urban areas. 16. Many government measures in response to COVID-19 could have a limiting effect on the enjoyment of human rights, such as the rights to free movement and freedom of assembly. Various government institutions were working to ensure that measures and limitations were within the confines of the law, balanced and proportionate to their purpose, and the Federal Government was urging citizens to abide by the lawful limitations imposed. 17. With respect to women’s political participation, Somali security institutions played a key role in securing safe and fair elections. The Federal Government was putting measures in place to ensure that women candidates and delegates were able to conduct their campaigns free from interference. Somali security institutions would coordinate their efforts, devising targeted measures to safeguard women. That would facilitate a level playing field for women during the upcoming electoral process. The Minister of Women and Human Rights Development, the Minister of the Interior, Federal Affairs and Reconciliation, the Minister of Internal Security, the Minister of Defence, the Minister of Justice and all institutions on 3