Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

113th session

Summary record of the 3094th meeting

Held at the Palais Wilson, Geneva, on Thursday, 15 August 2024, at 10 a.m.

Chair:Mr. Balcerzak

Contents

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)

Combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic reports of Iraq (continued)

The meeting was called to order at 10 a.m.

Consideration of reports, comments and information submitted by States parties under article 9 of the Convention (continued)

Combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic reports of Iraq (continued) (CERD/C/IRQ/26-27; CERD/C/IRQ/Q/26-27)

At the invitation of the Chair, the delegation of Iraq joined the meeting.

Mr. Guissé (Country Rapporteur) said that he would be grateful for updated information on the national reconciliation and transitional justice processes, in particular on measures to guarantee the safety and security of members of all ethnic and ethno-religious groups and to address the root causes of inter-ethnic violence. Details of any other measures adopted in the framework of those processes, such as a strategy to address human rights violations, would also be welcome. He would like information on the results of the national policy for community rehabilitation that had been endorsed by the National Security Council following the liberation of cities from Da’esh. The Committee would appreciate information on the mandate of the committee for dialogue and community peace that had been established under the Office of the Prime Minister, and on the activities of institutions such as the Martyrs Foundation, the Political Prisoners Foundation, the Human Rights Commission and the Property Disputes Commission. It would be interesting to know the extent to which ethnic and ethno-religious groups were represented in those institutions. The Committee would also welcome information on investigations into human rights violations committed against ethno-religious groups in the context of the armed conflict.

The delegation might also provide up-to-date information on complaints against Da’esh, including disaggregated data on the victims, and on investigations, prosecutions and penalties imposed, and describe the work of the courts specializing, respectively, in human rights and combating terrorism. It would be interesting to know how the State party ensured that counter-terrorism measures did not discriminate against members of ethnic and religious groups. Noting that the Ministry of the Interior had referred case files relating to a group of officers to the Internal Security Forces Court for it to look into charges of torture (CERD/C/IRQ/26-27, para. 203), he asked what other steps had been taken to investigate human rights violations committed by Iraqi security forces and affiliated militia groups. Details might be provided on the number of complaints received, investigations and prosecutions initiated and sentences handed down.

The State party was to be commended on the adoption of the Yazidi Female Survivors Act (No. 8) of 2021, which provided for reparations for victims of conflict-related sexual violence. The Committee would welcome clarification regarding the budget for implementation of the Act, which reportedly was insufficient, and the responsible ministry or other administrative entity. He would like to know how the authorities ensured that the procedure for claiming compensation did not lead to the revictimization or stigmatization of survivors. As the Committee had been informed that the children of Yazidi survivors of rape were registered as Muslims, which could lead to the stigmatization of both the mother and the child, he wished to know what measures had been taken in that regard.

The Committee would appreciate information on the measures taken by the State party to ensure the full and equal enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights by all ethnic groups. The Committee was concerned at reports that ethnic and ethno-religious groups had limited access to health-care facilities, that areas inhabited by Yazidis and Turkmen had fewer hospitals and clinics than Arab-majority regions and that health workers subjected members of minorities to racial discrimination. Consequently, he would be grateful for information on the availability of health care, including the number of hospitals, in areas inhabited by minorities, and on measures to combat racial discrimination in health-care facilities. Statistics on infant mortality and malnutrition among members of ethnic and ethno-religious groups would be welcome.

The Committee would be interested to hear whether the Ministry of Education had sufficient human and financial resources to support the provision of education in languages spoken by minorities. It would be useful to know how many schools provided education in minority languages. The delegation might explain why persons belonging to minorities had a lower level of enrolment in university education, and provide information on school dropout rates among children belonging to minority groups.

He would welcome clarification regarding the apparent contradiction between the Constitution, whose article 49 stipulated that the Council of Representatives must consist of a number of members, at a ratio of one seat per 100,000 Iraqi persons representing the entire Iraqi people, and the Elections Act (No. 9) of 2020, which allocated quotas of seats to certain groups. He would appreciate information on the representation of minority groups in the Council of Representatives and the provincial councils, and an explanation of why the Federal Supreme Court had decided to cancel the quota system in the Kurdistan Regional Parliament ahead of elections scheduled for later in the year. Information on the representation of minorities in the judiciary, law enforcement and the public sector would be welcome.

Finally, the Committee would appreciate details regarding the current status and the security situation of ethnic groups and other minorities living in disputed territories, in particular the Nineveh Plains, in the light of the unresolved dispute between the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government.

A representative of Iraq said that the Government was intent on providing redress to Yazidis and other communities that had fallen victim to the crimes of Da’esh. At theJad‘ah camp, it ran a programme of psychological support for some 600 returnee families who had been repatriated from the Al-Hawl camp in the Syrian Arab Republic. The Government, in cooperation with United Nations agencies, conducted security checks on persons who had been subjected to the terrorist ideology of Da’esh and it followed up with them after they returned to their places of origin. The Government had also introduced a plan on support and redress for Yazidis and other affected communities which was focused on reconstructing liberated areas, especially in Nineveh Governorate, with the aim of putting an end to displacement and allowing survivors to return home. Support for female survivors was provided through the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Under article 6 of the Yazidi Female Survivors Act, survivors were entitled to receive a monthly payment and a residential plot of land; more than 13,000 applications had been received from persons who considered themselves eligible. The Supreme Judicial Council had put in place a procedure to verify that applicants were in fact survivors, and steps had been taken to facilitate the verification of claims. For example, as many claimants were living abroad, the Supreme Judicial Council had decided to allow applicants to give testimony through a video conference call. The verification procedure was confidential; only the judge responsible for determining survivor status had access to the information provided.

In 2022, the Government had allocated 25 billion dinars to support implementation of the Yazidi Female Survivors Act, a figure replicated in the 2023, 2024 and 2025 budgets. In June 2023, the Prime Minister had marked the International Day for the Elimination of Sexual Violence in Conflict by meeting Yazidi and Turkmen survivors. All ministries had been instructed to facilitate implementation of the Act. For example, the Ministry of Health participated in the psychological rehabilitation of survivors. Two shelters for survivors had been built in Nineveh Governorate. Measures had been taken to ensure that survivors received food assistance and access to employment, including through the creation of posts for Yazidis in the police and judiciary in Nineveh Governorate.

The Government was also taking steps to search for the missing and disappeared. Iraqi embassies and consulates had been actively involved in such efforts, which had resulted in the return of many people. A committee had been set up to search for missing persons from all communities, including Yazidis and Turkmen. The committee had been tasked with establishing a database of abductees with a view to discovering their fate or announcing their release, setting up a hotline and an online forum for the reporting of missing persons, and paying rewards to anyone who could provide information about missing persons. The Iraqi intelligence and security services also accorded priority to the search for missing persons and abductees. According to figures provided by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, a total of 2,664 women and men who had been abducted were still missing.

To date, the authorities had exhumed more than 61 mass graves and had identified a further 30. The last to be exhumed, in Tel Afar, had contained the remains of over 100 Yazidis and Turkmen. The Government had arranged for the handover of remains to the families and had announced that the families of 205 martyrs would receive benefits.

The Government closely monitored the situation in Sinjar and it worked with international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women, to promote peace and stability in the region.

Regarding the question of stigmatization, the Yazidi spiritual leadership had stated that children who had been abducted by Da’esh would be reintegrated into Yazidi society. However, according to the group’s religious tradition, children born to women who had been raped could not be taken in unless both parents were Yazidis. The State was therefore providing care and protection for such children in shelters; it also worked with non‑governmental organizations (NGOs) to protect women who stayed with their children and were unable to rejoin their families.

Mr. Kut said that the Committee had been informed about a controversy surrounding the election of the governor of Kirkuk. Various political groups, including Kurdish and Turkmen parties, had raised concerns about the legitimacy of the election and its results. The Committee would be grateful for information on the causes of the dispute and any measures taken by the Government to resolve it.

Ms. Tebie said that she would like to know what measures had been adopted to assist learners and speakers of languages other than Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen and Syriac, to promote the use of other languages in public services and to protect the unique cultural and sociological features of ethnic and linguistic minorities. She also wished to know whether women who married foreign men could transmit Iraqi nationality to their husbands.

Ms. Tlakula said that she would like to know whether the planned council of elders for peace in the Nineveh Plains and local peace communities had been established. It would be useful to learn the impact of the measures adopted to combat gender-based violence, slavery, abduction and rape against ethnic minorities and to have statistics on any investigations and prosecutions in relation to those crimes and the redress granted to victims. She would also like to know the outcome of any prosecutions of members of Da’esh for genocide and crimes against humanity against Yazidis in Sinjar, and Christians, Shabaks and Turkmen in Mosul.

Ms. Stavrinaki said that the Committee wished to know how many child soldiers had benefited from rehabilitation plans and what specific steps would be taken to integrate into the Yazidi community children born as a result of sexual violence by members of Da’esh.

Ms. Shepherd said that she wished to know to what extent NGOs were active in the State party and how they had been involved in drafting the periodic report.

A representative of Iraq said that the security agencies had adopted a strategy to tackle extremism, which had led to the establishment of a national committee and subcommittees at the provincial level tasked with countering extremism. A subcommittee had also been formed within the Ministry of Migration and Displaced Persons to promote coexistence and the rejection of extremism, and to support and strengthen citizenship among young people. The media promoted discourse that strengthened national values, while government institutions developed policies and mechanisms to uphold fundamental freedoms and human rights and worked with international organizations to combat violent extremism and restore stability. Regulations were in place to prevent religion from being used for political ends, and the judiciary countered extremism by enforcing the law. Specific government-run activities to combat extremism included programmes in prisons and refugee camps, awareness-raising among school employees and among religious leaders at the provincial level and prizes for relevant research at universities.

A representative of Iraq said that a diversity strategy was being developed by a working group comprising representatives of the legislative, executive and judicial branches, waqfs, religious communities, the wider community and civil society. Meetings and workshops had taken place to inform the strategy, which was intended, inter alia, to eliminate discrimination; promote citizenship, equality and inclusivity; strengthen public institutions; and raise awareness of different cultures.

A representative of Iraq said that the Syriac and Hebrew languages were taught at the University of Baghdad – around 70 and 110 students were taking each course, respectively – while Kurdish was taught to around 110 students at the University of Kirkuk. Refugees and displaced persons could receive education grants, including to fund university degrees. Displaced persons benefited from measures to ensure their safety, to provide them with essential services and education in camps and to facilitate their integration into society. Mobile units had been established to provide them with tailored assistance, and religious leaders were involved in the development of awareness-raising campaigns and other efforts to combat prejudice against them.

The Government ensured equal access to education for ethnic and ethno-religious minorities, as well as for persons in areas affected by conflict. It had modernized education institutions throughout minority areas and opened several new university faculties, and there were plans to open dedicated faculties for students belonging to minority groups. Students, mainly from the Yazidi community, who had been forced to flee the country were granted unconditional readmission to university, regardless of their ethnicity. University programmes were open to disadvantaged persons and victims of violence. As part of efforts to combat poverty, disaggregated data on the number of students in need of material assistance had been compiled.

In relation to draft child protection legislation, efforts had been made to protect teachers and students, particularly in areas affected by conflict. In 2023 and 2024, universities had provided 61 training sessions for persons working with children, including children who had suffered at the hands of Da’esh.

A representative of Iraq said that the status of teachers was protected, regardless of ethnicity or religion. The general directorates for Syriac and Turkmen studies worked to preserve those languages. Christian students could receive education in line with their religion until adolescence, and manuals to that effect had been distributed to schools in Christian areas. Yazidi communities had the right to modify curricula adopted in the Kurdistan Region according to their beliefs.

A representative of Iraq said that around 2,500 families had arrived in the Jad‘ah camp since May 2021, while almost 2,000 had left the camp after receiving psychological rehabilitation. Around 600 families remained; they comprised approximately 275 men, 650 women, 700 boys and 675 girls. Inhabitants of the camp had access to social reinsertion workshops, collective and individual psychological support and leisure activities. Those services were evaluated periodically. A dedicated government department had been established for Yazidi survivors.

The meeting was suspended at 11.15 a.m. and resumed at 11.30 a.m.

Mr. Guissé said that he would welcome more detailed information on quotas in elections, the situation of the Zoroastrian community, and investigations into human rights violations and abuse by law enforcement officials. It would also be useful to have details of any targeted measures to combat structural racial discrimination against and the marginalization of Roma and people of African descent, and the consequent extreme poverty, illiteracy, unemployment, stigmatization and lack of representation in public life suffered by those groups. He would appreciate information on the arrangements for birth registration and the issuing of identity documents for Roma. Clarification was requested as to the temporary nature of the legal provisions allowing for the granting of nationality documents to Roma and Qaraj.

The Committee would appreciate information on the political and legislative framework on migrants, refugees, asylum-seekers, displaced persons and stateless individuals and on any steps taken to draft a law on refugees that was consistent with international standards. He wished to learn what measures had been taken to prevent and combat the exploitation and abuse of migrant workers, including domestic workers, and facilitate the filing of complaints by victims. Information on the number of workplace inspections carried out in the past three years would be welcome, as would an explanation of whether those inspections had led to further investigations and the initiation of legal proceedings against employers. It would be useful for the delegation to comment on the support available to migrant workers and to confirm whether they had access to social protection. The Committee would be interested to hear whether campaigns had been run to inform migrant workers of their rights and what measures had been taken to raise awareness of the importance of ethnic and ethno-religious diversity and tolerance among the general public, government officials, law enforcement agents and members of the judiciary.

A representative of Iraq said that a quota system was in place to ensure the representation of certain communities in elected positions in regions in which they made up a signification proportion of the population. Government positions were open to individuals from all groups, and appointments were made by the Federal Service Council solely on the basis of merit. While certain positions, such as those within the judiciary, required specific skills, they were open to every individual who passed the relevant examinations. Individuals wishing to occupy high-level government posts also needed to demonstrate a special skill set. One notable achievement was the fact that a member of the Christian community had been appointed to a role in administrative justice, which was unusual in the Arab world.

A representative of Iraq said that the Iraqi Nationality Act established that non‑nationals married to Iraqi women and children born to an Iraqi mother and a foreign father had the right to Iraqi citizenship. With regard to human rights violations committed by members of the law enforcement services, efforts were made to inspect and monitor police premises, in particular those used for detention purposes. In the event that violations were detected, a communication was sent to the Ministry of the Interior to ensure that swift action would be taken. A total of 404 visits had been carried out so far in 2024. More than 150 complaints had been filed, of which 33 had already been processed. Some complaints had led to the initiation of legal proceedings against the officers concerned, while others had been found to lack merit. Approximately 120 complaints remained outstanding, as steps needed to be taken to verify the evidence provided and ensure that the complaint had not been filed for improper motives.

A representative of Iraq said that a distinction should be made between foreigners who were in possession of a work permit pursuant to the Iraqi Labour Code and those who were not. Foreign workers holding a permit received at least the minimum wage and were covered by the social security system. Inspections were carried out to monitor their working conditions. Migrant workers had filed complaints against recruiters and individuals who had hired them and subsequently failed to pay them a wage. Documents detailing the steps taken to handle those complaints could be provided to the Committee. It was impossible, in contrast, for the authorities to monitor the situation of workers without a permit. Such workers and the individuals who recruited them were deemed to be in violation of the law. Lastly, Yazidi women who sought compensation under the Yazidi Female Survivors Act were not required to submit proof that they had been subjected to rape or sexual slavery.

A representative of Iraq said that, in recent years, a large number of hospitals and specialized clinics had been opened in various governorates across the country. Steps had been taken towards ensuring universal health insurance coverage, especially among vulnerable groups. Some 1,200 Yazidi female survivors had been supported by a specialized committee established to provide them with care and help them seek treatment abroad. Psychological rehabilitation centres for such women had been set up in Tall Afar and Shekan. Efforts were being made to increase the number of beds in various hospitals across the country, with a view to guaranteeing that those hospitals would be able to meet the needs of the large number of returning individuals. A health and rehabilitation centre had been opened to foster the reintegration of those individuals into society.

A representative of Iraq said that the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had taken a number of measures to tackle the recruitment of children by armed forces; those measures had been welcomed by the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict. A national committee had been created to combat all violations of children’s rights, and a draft child protection law was currently being prepared taking into account the Government’s obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and international human rights law. Approximately 70 children, some of whom had been detained for reasons of national security, had been released. More than 2,000 children had been repatriated from Syria.

A representative of Iraq said that the Government had issued instructions regarding the granting of citizenship to members of the Roma community. While individuals belonging to that community continued to be registered as Roma rather than Iraqi, they were entitled to receive Iraqi identity documents and be treated equally to the rest of the population.

A representative of Iraq said that, pursuant to article 14 of the Constitution, people of African descent were considered Iraqi citizens and should be treated on an equal footing with the rest of the population. Such individuals had the right to obtain Iraqi nationality, receive health care and file complaints.

A representative of Iraq said that the Kurdistan Regional Government had recognized Zoroastrianism and a number of other minority religions and nationalities since 2015. Foreign workers in the Kurdistan Region were treated on an equal footing with Iraqi nationals and had the same access to social security and benefits. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Region had launched a committee to regulate the employment of foreign workers, and guidelines for such workers had recently been approved and published. There were approximately 88,000 registered foreign workers in the Kurdistan Region. The Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs had created committees to visit homes employing domestic workers, who were able to make complaints through a dedicated hotline. More than 300 companies had been blacklisted or shut down for involvement in organized crime.

Mr. Guissé said that he would be grateful for the delegation’s comments on the high illiteracy rates among ethnic minority groups and the challenges faced by children born to parents suspected of belonging to Da’esh in obtaining a birth certificate. The Committee wished to learn what measures the State party was taking to address the issues arising from the return of alleged members of Da’esh to their communities of origin. It would be useful to learn whether Zoroastrians were fully free to practise their religion.

Ms. Tlakula said that she would like to know how many Roma were employed by government departments and institutions. It would be helpful for the delegation to elaborate on the information provided in paragraph 89 of the State party’s report and describe what was being done to address the sociohistorical causes of the difficulties faced by people of African descent. The Committee would be grateful for more information on the steps taken to combat the racial discrimination encountered by such people and to enhance their access to adequate education, health care, housing and employment, in line with the recommendation made by the Committee in its previous concluding observations (CERD/C/IRQ/CO/22-25).

Mr. Diaby said that it would be helpful for the delegation to respond to his question, put at the previous meeting, on the existence of laws for the protection of human rights defenders. Information on the progress made in the investigations into the repression of the 2019 protests would be welcome, as would confirmation of whether those investigations had led to the conviction of the security officials and ministers involved.

He wished to know whether the State party planned to adopt laws to criminalize the use of the Arabic word for “slaves” [abeed] to refer to people of African descent. The Committee would be interested to hear about the steps taken to ensure that the State party’s past involvement in slavery was addressed in school textbooks. The delegation might wish to explain whether efforts had been made to increase the visibility of people of African descent and what steps would be taken to ensure that they had the same status as other Iraqi citizens. It would be useful to learn how many stateless individuals were present in the State party, whether the State party intended to ratify the Convention relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness and whether it had adopted a national plan to end statelessness.

In view of the water shortages faced by the State party in the past two years, he would like to know what would be done to ensure that rural communities, especially those that were home to minority groups, had access to sufficient water.

A representative of Iraq said that particular attention had been paid to the situation of Roma, who had been provided with identity documents to ensure access to basic services, including health and education. The Ministry of the Interior was exploring ways to grant Iraqi nationality to Roma, and the Iraqi Nationality Act was currently being reviewed in that regard. It would, however, be necessary to conduct a census of the Roma community. In those regions with the largest Roma populations, the Ministry of Health had ordered the construction of a hospital, inspections of medical facilities had been carried out and pharmacies had been opened. Municipalities had been instructed to provide Roma with housing. Roma cooperated with Sunni and Shia Muslims to share places of worship, and they had access to finance, training and employment, including in the public and private sectors.

The law prohibited all forms of discrimination against citizens of African descent, who had the same rights under the Constitution as did other citizens of Iraq. They had access to public sector jobs, health, education, sport and leisure, among other things, on an equal footing as other Iraqi citizens. Furthermore, people of African descent in Iraq were Muslims, as were the majority of the population, and discrimination on any grounds, including on the basis of skin colour, was prohibited under Islamic sharia.

A representative of Iraq, explaining that there were no longer anyoccupied territories in Iraq, said that concerted efforts were being made to assist internally displaced communities. The Government had established a committee to devise specific policies in relation to those communities. The Ministry of Migration and Displaced Persons had taken measures to support the voluntary return of displaced persons to their places of origin, for example by providing displaced families, including female-headed households, with financial grants. Other initiatives included the establishment of income-generating projects and the distribution of relief aid, including food, health kits, clothing and other basic supplies. A number of displacement camps had been closed and support had been provided to facilitate the return of persons to Sinjar.

A representative of Iraq said that identity documents had been issued for some 300 children born of unknown fathers in the Jad‘ah camp. A committee of retired judges, which had been set up to deal with human rights violations that had been committed during the 2019 protests, had submitted a report containing a number of recommendations, which were expected to be approved by the Prime Minister. Under the Martyrs’ Foundation Act, compensation in the region of 10 million Iraqi dinars had been allocated for over 500 persons who had been killed and many others who had suffered a disability as a consequence of injuries sustained during the demonstrations. Some 300 claims were still to be considered by the Supreme Judicial Council. Where necessary, injured persons had been referred for treatment abroad.

A representative of Iraq, providing an overview of the Governorate Council elections that had been held in Kirkuk Governorate,said that differences between political blocs had delayed the formation of the Council following the holding of those elections. To facilitate progress, the Prime Minister had held meetings, in Baghdad, with the leaders of the various political blocs. A four-year plan covering administrative, economic and security aspects in Kirkuk had been approved. It had been agreed to establish a council to implement that plan and to hold all the various blocs accountable in that endeavour. To promote unity and equal participation, posts in the Council were to be occupied by Kurdish, Turkmen and Arab representatives, with the roles of the President of the Council and of the Governor to be held on a rotating basis. However, the Turkmen community had not put forward any candidates, for which reason their allocated posts currently remained vacant.

The Federal Supreme Court had handed down decisions concerning the allocation of reserved seats in elections held in the Kurdistan Region. In the light of applications made by Turkmen and Christian parties, it had been decided that the seats would be redistributed to the Dahuk, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Governorates. Elections would soon be held in the Kurdistan Region in accordance with the established quota system.

A representative of Iraq said that every effort was being made by the Ministry of Education to eradicate illiteracy among communities in Iraq, including people of African descent. To achieve that goal, literacy centres had been opened across the country and even in prisons. As a result, thousands of persons had been able to complete their education, without discrimination. Furthermore, the Ministry paid special attention to reviewing textbooks to eliminate demeaning or hurtful images and language concerning people of African descent or persons belonging to other communities. A new subject on ethics had been introduced in the school curricula to promote values such as peaceful coexistence, equality and intercultural understanding.

A representative of Iraq said that the use of racist terms, including the Arabic word for slave, was prohibited under the Criminal Code and punishable by a fine or a term of imprisonment. Any person who felt disrespected could apply to the courts for redress.

A representative of Iraq said that the Government had worked in partnership with several NGOs in the drafting of the national human rights plan. Furthermore, an interactive dialogue had been held with networks representing over 200 NGOs, including those working to promote minority rights, human rights and women’s rights, and their comments and recommendations had been taken into account when drafting relevant documents.

Ms. Tlakula, noting that, unfortunately, the secretariat had not been able to locate the State party’s follow-up report to the Committee’s previous concluding observations (CERD/C/IRQ/CO/22-25), said that such follow-up reports were the only way that the Committee could know that action had been taken to follow up on matters that it considered of particular importance. She therefore encouraged the State party to submit a follow-up report on the Committee’s forthcoming concluding observations.

Mr. Guissé said that he wished to thank the delegation for what had been a constructive and interactive dialogue. He would be grateful to receive in writing information on land ownership, as well as the data that had been provided in the replies given by members of the delegation. The Committee wished to recognize the efforts that the State party had taken to set the country back on track after a difficult period.

A representative of Iraq, reaffirming his Government’s commitment to fulfilling the international obligations of Iraq, including those enshrined in the Convention, said that the importance of positive and constructive interaction with the Committee and other human rights treaty bodies could not be overstated. The review of his country’s report had provided an important opportunity to take stock of how much had been achieved in terms of the promotion and protection of human rights in Iraq and to highlight areas where further efforts were needed. His Government looked forward to receiving actionable recommendations from the Committee, which, he hoped, would take into account the serious political, social and environmental challenges that Iraq had faced in recent years, many of which had had a negative impact, including with regard to the availability of resources.

A representative of Iraq said that his Government was resolute in its commitment to promote and protect human rights and uphold the rights of all Iraqi communities, without discrimination of any kind. To that end, it had worked and would continue to work in an inclusive manner with stakeholders.

The Chair said that the Committee valued the delegation’s efforts to provide responses to the many questions posed. The views of the Committee as a whole would be contained in the forthcoming concluding observations, which would be shared shortly with the State party.

The meeting rose at 12.55 p.m.