An Iraqi delegation arrives in Geneva to discuss the periodic report on human rights

Baghdad-INA  
The delegation of the Republic of Iraq, headed by the Minister of Justice, Khalid Shawani, arrived in the Swiss capital, Geneva, today, Wednesday, to discuss the combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic report of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, respond to the recommendations and observations of the competent international committee, and present the progress made in implementing the aforementioned convention and the best national applications in the field of human rights.
 
The Ministry of Justice said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): that "The delegation of the Republic of Iraq, headed by the Minister of Justice, Khalid Shawani, began its first session in the capital, Geneva, to discuss the combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic report of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, respond to the recommendations and observations of the competent international committee, and present the progress made in implementing the aforementioned convention and the best national applications in the field of human rights."
 
The Minister of Justice said during a speech he delivered at the beginning of the session according to the statement: "The Iraqi government adopted in October 2022 a ministerial program that includes an implementable plan to reform the economic, financial and service sectors, address the issue of displaced persons and components, rebuild liberated areas, address poverty and unemployment, combat corruption, create job opportunities in the public and private sectors, encourage small and medium enterprises, provide soft loans, and approve the national strategy to reduce inequalities in the world of work for the year 2024."
 
 He added, "During the time frame for preparing this report, Iraq witnessed the elections of the House of Representatives in October 2021 with a popular participation rate of 43.5%, as well as the elections of provincial councils in December 2023 with a participation rate of 41%."
 
He continued, "With the aim of paying attention to the human rights file and women's empowerment, and adhering to international agreements, the Council of Ministers approved the National Human Rights Plan 2021-2025 to be a guide for the work of government institutions to implement the recommendations of international bodies in respect of Iraq's international obligations in this regard."
Speaking about the interest in women's affairs, Shawani said: "The Iraqi government is adopting a number of strategies that concern women, including the National Strategy to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls 2018-2030, as well as the National Strategy for Women 2023-2030."
 
He continued, "The Iraqi government has paid attention to childhood by supporting the policies of the Ministry of Education and the Child Welfare Authority, including the National Strategy for Early Childhood Development 2022-2031, in addition to establishing a national committee to prevent violations of children's rights."
 
The minister stressed that "the Iraqi government attaches special importance to the educational aspect, to raise the efficiency of education, improve its quality, enhance the values of knowledge, and build modern schools in the governorates to accommodate students and ensure that they obtain this right."
 
Regarding combating human trafficking, the minister said: "The Central Committee to Combat Human Trafficking has been formed, which will prepare strategies and implement numerous campaigns to hold perpetrators of this crime accountable and help victims, as these efforts have led to Iraq being removed from the special watch list."
 
The Minister of Justice added, "My country's government has worked to legislate and amend a number of laws to align these laws with Iraq's international obligations, including the House of Representatives Elections Law, ensuring the quota of components, the Legal Aid Law, the Retirement and Social Security Law for Workers, the Health Insurance Law, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Law, and the Yazidi Survivors Law."
 
Shawani stated that "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani directed the adoption of the Turkmen language as a third official language in administrative correspondence within the administrative borders of Kirkuk Governorate. He also directed the Ministry of Education to ensure that school hours for the Christian component and other components be in accordance with their religious rituals, in addition to the issuance of a Cabinet decision to find a comprehensive solution to the problem of Yazidi component land ownership, in accordance with the principle of citizenship, equality, and justice among all segments of the people."
 
 He continued, saying, "The Iraqi government has adopted a national policy based on involving all components of Iraqi society in assuming high positions according to experience and academic qualifications."
 
Regarding the role of the Iraqi Ministry of Justice in implementing international human rights standards, he stressed that "the ministry has adopted a new policy to manage and improve the reality of prisons in Iraq by taking a series of measures, including addressing overcrowding through expansion and establishing new correctional institutions in accordance with international standards, in addition to intensifying correctional programs as well as preparing a draft law on alternative punishments and paying attention to the educational aspect for inmates by providing free education opportunities for inmates in coordination with pedagogical and educational institutions."
 
 In conclusion, the minister expressed his "happiness with the interest that the report of the Republic of Iraq received from civil society organizations, stressing that this interest stems from the wide-ranging freedom for civil society to operate under the new political system in Iraq."