An Iraqi emphasis on activating cases of sexual violence

Baghdad - INA

Foreign Minister, Fuad Hussein, stressed today, Saturday, the importance of activating the statement of Iraq and the United Nations on issues of sexual violence.

Тhe Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein received the representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, Pramila Patten, on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.".

The Minister stressed the importance of activating the joint statement signed in 2016 between Iraq and the United Nations on cooperation and coordination in cases of sexual violence in armed conflict, which includes documenting data and collecting evidence for victims of sexual violence and crimes committed by terrorism in Iraq against all components of the Iraqi people. 

He commended the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and her office on the efforts made regarding the issues of survivors of sexual violence perpetrated by the terrorist organization Daesh.”.
  
For her part, the Representative of the Secretary-General, Pramila Patten, expressed her “support and her office,” stressing that she “wish to visit Iraq in At the beginning of next year, and that its expert team will carry out its work in Baghdad.”.

She praised the Iraqi parliament’s decision to legislate the Yazidi Survivors Law, adding that “United Nations bodies in Iraq are working through (6) projects to provide assistance to survivors of sexual violence in Mosul".

Patten affirmed, "the desire of her office to activate the joint statement on cooperation and coordination in cases of sexual violence, especially with regard to carrying out some relevant legislative reforms.".

In addition to that Patten praised the Iraqi government's development of mechanisms related to holding accountable the harassment of female candidates during the elections, pointing out that "its office is working on preparing a comprehensive report that will be issued at the end of this year and will be submitted to the Security Council in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. (2467), dealing with issues related to survivors of sexual violence. related to the conflict and children born as a result of rape, and the report will also address recommendations, including the possibility of passing on the name and nationality through the mother.”.

Furthermore, the conclusion of the meeting, according to the statement, the Minister thanked the Special Representative for her efforts in providing assistance to the survivors, and urged her again to intensify efforts to provide mental health services and psychosocial support to survivors of all components of the Iraqi people who were subjected to sexual violence by the criminal organization ISIS.