Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination Commend Iraq’s Efforts to Improve the National Human Rights Institute, Ask Questions on Action Taken Against Hate Speech and the Situation of Migrant Workers
The Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination today concluded its consideration of the combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic report of Iraq, with Committee Experts commending the State on its efforts to improve the national human rights institute, and asking questions on action taken against hate speech and the situation of migrant workers.
One Committee Expert congratulated the progress made by the State party in improving its national human rights institute. Would the State party allow the institute to recruit its own members directly?
Ibrahima Guisse, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the Criminal Code did not fully prohibit hate speech. What measures were in place to achieve this? Another Expert noted that in its previous concluding observations, the Committee had called for information on action taken against public figures and politicians for hate speech. Had the State party taken any action in this regard?
One Committee Expert said migrant workers, including domestic workers, were subjected to low wages and long hours, including non-payment of overtime. How were migrant workers protected from exploitation? What remedies were available to exploited migrant workers?
Khalid Salam Saeed, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, said the report presented progress made in the implementation of the Convention at the national level and outlined national best practices and measures reflecting the implementation of human rights standards at the legislative, executive and judicial levels.
Abdul-Karim Hashim Mostafa, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Iraq reaffirmed its commitments to its international obligations, including to the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, especially since Iraq was an ethnically diverse country.
The delegation said any citizen could apply to be a member of the national human rights institute. More than 3,000 persons had applied to be members of the institute. Over the coming months, the institute’s board would be formed. The institute worked effectively.
There was a bill to criminalise hate speech that was currently with the Government Cabinet, the delegation said. The bill included definitions in line with article four of the Convention. The election law also banned extremist and racist discourse in the political process. Political candidates could be disqualified for using hate speech and a number of candidates had been disqualified in the past.
Concerning migrant and domestic workers, the delegation said that around 14,500 migrant workers with labour permits were registered with the State. Domestic workers with work permits were entitled to the minimum wage and social security. Inspection teams oversaw their situation. Complaints were filed against employers who failed to pay domestic workers. The State could not monitor migrant workers who did not have work permits – such persons were illegal aliens.
In concluding remarks, Mr. Guisse said the dialogue had been constructive and the delegation’s answers sincere. The Committee focused on facts, which allowed it to analyse whether progress had been made. Iraq had trod a hard path and the Committee was aware of the efforts made by the State to put the country back on course.
Michal Balcerzak, Committee Chair, in concluding remarks, expressed gratitude to the delegation for the efforts made to answer the Committee’s questions and participate in the intensive dialogue.
Mr. Saeed, in concluding remarks, said Iraq looked forward to receiving the Committee’s upcoming concluding observations, which it would examine carefully to develop national strategies and policies. He expressed Iraq’s determination to promote and protect the human rights of all its citizens without discrimination.
The delegation of Iraq consisted of representatives of the State Council; General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers; Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs; Supreme Judicial Council; Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Ministry of Immigration and Displacement; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Justice; Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Defence; Ministry of Planning, Statistics and Geographic Systems Authority; Iraqi Cabinet; Ministry of Health; Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Kurdistan Regional Government; and the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee will issue its concluding observations on the report of Iraq after the conclusion of its one hundred and thirteenth session on 23 August. Summaries of the public meetings of the Committee can be found here, while webcasts of the public meetings can be found here. The programme of work of the Committee’s one hundred and thirteenth session and other documents related to the session can be found here.
The Committee will next meet in public on Thursday, 15 August at 3 p.m. to consider the combined twenty-fourth and twenty-fifth periodic report of Belarus (CERD/C/BLR/24-25).
Report
The Committee has before it the combined twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh periodic report of Iraq (CERD/C/IRQ/26-27).
Presentation of Report
KHALID SALAM SAEED, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, said the report presented progress made in the implementation of the Convention at the national level and outlined national best practices and measures reflecting the implementation of human rights standards at the legislative, executive and judicial levels. During the reporting period, Iraq had witnessed the House of Representatives elections in October 2021, in which the participation rate reached 43 per cent. In December 2023, Iraqi provincial council elections had been held, with a turnout of 41 per cent. The Government had adopted the national roadmap in October 2022, which addressed the reform of the economic, financial and service sectors; the reconstruction of liberated areas; and measures to address poverty, unemployment and corruption, create job opportunities, encourage the establishment of small and medium enterprises, provide soft loans, and reduce inequalities.
The Council of Ministers had devised the national plan for human rights (2021-2025), the goals of which were to harmonise national legislation with international conventions, develop national human rights policies, and strengthen institutional capacities. Mr. Saeed presented policies, legislation and institutions set up to support women and children in the State, including a programme for minority women who were victims of terrorism. The Government attached special importance to enhancing the quality of education, and had implemented several measures toward that aim.
The Government also attached great importance to tackling trafficking in persons. It had formed a Central Committee to Combat Human Trafficking headed by the Minister of Interior, and implemented several campaigns to hold perpetrators of this crime accountable. The Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Department in the Ministry of Interior had been awarded by the United States Department of State for his efforts in combatting human trafficking. Iraq had ratified the Arab Protocol to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children.
Iraq had implemented legislation to establish quotas of seats in the House of Representatives; increase access to legal aid, retirement, social security and health insurance; and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Through the Yazidi survivors law of 2021, the Government had worked to support and compensate survivors of ISIS crimes financially and morally, secure a decent life for them, rehabilitate and care for survivors, and prepare the means to integrate them into society. Turkmen language was added as a third language in official communications in regions where the language was spoken and in all military institutions. A law had been adopted on Yazidi land claims which would rectify unfair land distribution conducted under the previous regime.
The Government had also introduced a new policy to improve conditions in prisons, which involved addressing overcrowding through the establishment of new correctional institutions in accordance with international standards, in addition to intensifying rehabilitation programmes for inmates. A draft Penal Code revision was being prepared, which would contribute to allowing many convicts to return to society.
ABDUL-KARIM HASHIM MOSTAFA, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Iraq reaffirmed its commitments to its international obligations, including to the elimination of all forms of racial discrimination, especially since Iraq was an ethnically diverse country. Iraq had worked to harmonise its national legislation with the Convention to promote coexistence among all components of its peoples.
DINDAR FARZANDA ZUBER, International Recommendations Coordinator, Kurdistan Regional Government, said the Kurdistan Regional Government had worked hard to create a society free from discrimination. During the period between 2019 and 2023, the Kurdistan Regional Parliament had issued 35 laws, referred seven draft laws to Parliament, and amended other laws to protect public freedoms. The Government had a five-year plan for human rights. Six reports had been prepared on the implementation of the plan. Over 400 recommendations had been implemented by the executive branch.
More than 88,000 foreign workers were registered with the Government. A committee had been formed to regulate foreigners’ work and to inspect workplaces hosting foreigners.
The Government had worked to free ISIS abductees and had set up a survivors’ centre. Over 5,000 people had been arrested for drug trafficking. Measures had been implemented to address overcrowding in correctional centres, and surveillance measures had been put in place to prevent torture in these centres. Five cases of torture of journalists had been reported and one had been investigated. The Government had reduced the scope of the death penalty; 470 persons had received the death penalty over the reporting period.
General directorates for Turkmen and Syriac studies had been established; 18 Turkmen language schools were opened with 2,500 students, and 24 Syriac language schools with 1,708 students; and an education body in Dohuk governorate supervised the study of Yazidi. The regional Government had issued directives that Friday sermons be free of manifestations of intolerance. In this context, 1,800 preachers were honoured and support was provided to 321 preachers who contributed to promoting the values of coexistence and rejecting hatred. The Friday sermon in one mosque was conducted in the Turkmen language in Erbil.
The number of Roma in the region was more than 30,000 people. To protect their rights, the Ministry of the Interior had granted permission to establish the Roma Cultural Centre, and provided many facilities regarding the issuance of official documents to them on an exceptional basis. In the field of education, there were 85 university graduates among the Roma.
Mr. Zuber also presented measures to promote the rights of persons with disabilities and women, and to combat human trafficking.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the very high-level delegation indicated the interest that Iraq had in the Convention. The dialogue would address the challenges faced by the State party. Mr. Guisse asked for disaggregated data on the ethnic makeup of Iraq, and on migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The Federal Court had handed down a decision to remove questions on ethnic origin from the census. When would the next census take place? How did the State party assess equality and access to basic rights by ethnic minorities?
What resources had been set aside for the national human rights institute, which had received “A” status in 2021? The Committee had called for the terms of office for members of the institute to be limited and for its independent mandate to be strengthened. Had this been done? What was the process to select Commissioners and how was transparency guaranteed? Was the institute accessible in minority languages?
What measures were in place to fully implement the Convention in national law and give it precedence over national laws? Had decisions been taken by national courts that directly invoked the Convention? What measures were in place to organise training campaigns for judges, law enforcement officers and the public on the Convention?
NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said Iraq had experienced war, during which the Western world had been intent on destroying Iraqi civilisation. However, the Iraqi people had refused to be broken. Iraq had left behind its obscurity and peace had returned to it, as had democracy. Iraqi schools and universities worked well. Minorities lived in a modern society. Mr. Amir praised Iraq’s success in rebuilding after the war.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said all censuses conducted after 1957 had been used for ethnic cleansing and to reinforce discrimination, aiming to make one sect more powerful than the rest. Considering this, the current Government avoided questions on religious affiliations in the census. The census would be solely used for development purposes. It would be implemented in October this year. United Nations agencies would support census activities.
Iraq was the cradle of religions and civilisations. It was a diverse, peace-loving nation. The Constitution stipulated that all Iraqis were equal, regardless of colour, religion or sex. The rights of different communities were ensured in the Constitution. A committee had been established to put an end to demographic change and to preserve Christian identities in certain areas. Measures had been implemented to provide land to Yazidi minorities. Awareness raising campaigns were being conducted to stop hate speech against different communities. There were plans to reconstruct Sinjar and provide compensation to displaced persons. There were employment programmes for displaced people, who could also access a welfare pension. A strategy to prevent hate speech had also been developed. Iraq hosted more than 317,000 refugees and asylum seekers. Their basic needs were all met by the Government.
The Constitutional Court had handed down a series of decisions reaffirming equality and non-discrimination among Iraqi citizens. The Federal Appeals Court had also issued rulings related to workplace discrimination. All forms of discrimination between workers were prohibited. The Human Rights Court investigated all forms of human rights violations. In 2023, over 17,000 complaints were received, with around 70 per cent having been resolved. There were complaints of unmarked mass graves and violence against journalists. There were around 10,500 complaints of torture, of which 9,000 had been resolved. In 2024, there were 55 cases of human trafficking, 50 of which had been resolved.
Human rights training courses had been established for public officials. They addressed torture and violence against women. The large number of decisions on cases of human rights violations testified to the State party’s efforts to tackle these violations.
Iraq had carefully studied the alignment of its laws with international treaties. An anti-discrimination bill that would incorporate the Convention was currently being developed. There was also legislation that prohibited hate speech. The Political Parties Act prohibited parties from adopting policies that incited hatred. The Criminal Code reiterated the importance of respecting religious diversity. A hotline had been set up to report human rights violations. Complaints made through the hotline were referred to the Supreme Judicial Council for further action. Awareness raising campaigns were held on ethnic minorities’ rights and responsibilities. Kurdish and Assyrian language television channels had been set up.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the census needed to take stock of ethnic groups. How would the State party ensure the visibility of ethnic minorities in statistics? How would the State allocate quotas for minorities in Parliament in this context?
NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, asked if the Government was willing to negotiate with national minorities facing certain problems. How would the State party normalise relations between the Government and national minorities?
A Committee Expert asked if there were gender-based quotas for elected offices in Iraq. How would the State party ensure progress in women’s participation in elections? Was there gender equality in the management of public affairs? The State party had received 11,000 complaints about racial discrimination. What rulings had been handed down based on these complaints, what punishments were issued, and what reparations were provided to victims?
Another Committee Expert called for more information on the bill on racial discrimination. Would it include a definition of racial discrimination that was in line with the Convention?
One Committee Expert asked how many women in the Council of Ministers came from ethnic minorities. Could the provisions of the Convention already be directly invoked before domestic courts?
A Committee Expert congratulated the high-level delegation and the progress made by the State party in improving its national human rights institute. Would the State party allow the national human rights institute to recruit its own members directly? Was the State party planning to repeal laws excluding certain minorities? If an Iraqi woman married a foreign citizen, she would lose her Iraqi citizenship. Would the State party repeal this law?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said there were no political ethnicity quotas. There were legal mechanisms in place to ensure appropriate representation in Parliament. The State party would conduct a study to ensure that all communities were properly represented in Parliament. Political parties represented the communities they belonged to.
There was a quota requiring 25 per cent female representation in political bodies. In 2005, there was 25 per cent female representation in Parliament, and this had risen to 29 per cent in 2021. Women were encouraged to stand for elections and participate in political life. Measures were in place to protect female candidates from online abuse. There were currently three female ministers, 128 women judges, and 782 women officers in the Ministry of Defence.
Any citizen could apply to be a member of the national human rights institute. More than 3,000 persons had applied to be members of the institute. Over the coming months, the institute’s board would be formed. The institute was independent of the Ministry of Justice, though the Ministry supervised it. It worked effectively.
The bill on racial discrimination was being studied. All its provisions were in line with the Convention. Another law preventing incitement to racial discrimination was also being developed.
Mothers and fathers could pass nationality to their children, thanks to a recent legal amendment. There was no discrimination in the issuance of identification documents to Iraqi children. Iraqi women married to non-nationals could choose the nationality of their children according to the Nationality Act.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that the State party report did not contain information on the Act on Diversity and Combatting Racial Discrimination. Did the bill contain a definition of direct and indirect discrimination? Could more information be provided on the implementation of the national human rights action plan? How had it tackled the situation of ethnic minorities? What consultations were held with ethnic minorities, including persons of African descent, regarding the plan and legislation on racial discrimination?
The Criminal Code did not fully prohibit hate speech. What measures were in place to achieve this? What was the legal framework for combatting hate speech? What complaints had been made before courts related to hate speech? How many convictions had been handed down for such crimes and what reparations were provided to victims? Did the State party have information on complaints related to racial discrimination? Were there judicial remedies for such discrimination? Were statistics on complaints disaggregated in any way? What measures were in place to combat hate speech in the media? There were reports of high levels of hate speech online, including against journalists and human rights defenders. What was the mandate of the committee to combat hate speech?
What measures would the State party take to ensure that law enforcement agencies did not engage in racial discrimination, racial profiling or other forms of violence? Did the legal framework specifically ban racial profiling and excessive use of force? Were perpetrators of discriminatory police brutality held accountable?
NOUREDDIN AMIR, Committee Expert and Country Co-Rapporteur, said Iraq did not harbour grudges against America for its attacks on Iraq. American forces had caused unspeakable suffering in Iraqi society.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said religion continued to be an important component of the State. Geographic overlap led to communities being mixed. Addressing this, identity documents were no longer required to include details of ethnic origin or faith. The census would be conducted for economic and societal purposes only, and thus would not include questions on ethnicity.
Court rulings had reaffirmed principles of non-discrimination. Judicial rulings needed to be aligned with domestic law. They set out penalties for perpetrators and provided compensation for damages and suffering. Around 1,300 complaints of human rights violations had been received by the State.
There were around 900 Christians working for the Ministry of Defence, as well as Yazidis, Turkmens and Armenians. Security measures were taken to ensure that these minorities were not subject to abuse. Awareness raising campaigns were held by the Ministry to encourage racial harmony. The Ministry of Defence’s code of conduct ensured that there was no discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin by law enforcement officers.
There was a bill to criminalise hate speech that was currently with the Government Cabinet. The bill addressed offences against God and the Prophets. Penalties were issued to persons who desecrated places of worship. The bill included definitions in line with article four of the Convention. A committee was established to combat hate speech in 2023. It was preparing a comprehensive analysis of hate speech on racial grounds, examining which communities were most targeted. The Government was strengthening policies that prohibited hate speech, and increasing transparency, accountability and awareness of people working in the media on hate speech. Training programmes had been organised together with members of civil society to combat hate speech.
The national human rights action plan for 2021 to 2025 included over 600 recommendations. It was created with the help of three non-governmental organizations and the United Nations peacekeeping operation. The Government was implementing the recommendations of the plan. A third report on the implementation of the plan would be released next month.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, requested statistics on the State party’s training programmes.
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said that in the previous concluding observations, the Committee had requested a follow-up report on implementation within one year. This had not been received. In the concluding observations, the Committee had called for information on action taken against public figures and politicians for hate speech. Had the State party taken any action in this regard?
A Committee Expert asked for information on judicial decisions handed down by courts related to discrimination.
One Committee Expert asked if the State party had a mechanism to detect online incitement to hatred or hate speech. Were there any human rights defenders working to defend the rights of ethnic minorities in the State party?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the State party had adopted the Committee’s previous concluding observations in December 2018. Iraq had sent answers to the Committee’s request for a follow-up report in December 2018.
The State party provided equal opportunity to work for all ethnic minorities. Sanctions were issued to employers who discriminated against ethnic minorities in the workplace. Labour inspection teams were working to identify such discrimination.
Freedom of expression was not absolute. It was governed by controls to ensure the
public interest. The Government was monitoring cases where persons used social media to promote negative values that could harm children or other persons. The Government acted against media outlets that used racist terms. A specialised committee monitored hate speech in the media and sanctions could be imposed on persons who engaged in hate speech in the media. The election law banned extremist and racist discourse in the political process. Political candidates could be disqualified for using hate speech and a number of candidates had been disqualified in the past.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said that in 2024, the Federal Supreme Court had decided to remove the identification of ethnicity on identity documents. This could have negative effects. Could the delegation provide updated information on the process of national reconciliation and transitional justice? There was a community rehabilitation policy for persons liberated from ISIS. Were there any challenges in this regard? The Committee had previously called on the State party to take measures to tackle inter-ethnic intolerance. The Committee for Dialogue and Peace, the Martyrs’ Foundation for Reconciliation and the Commission for Human Rights and Litigation did not have representatives from national minorities. Why was this? What was being done to tackle violence? What were the mandates of the transitional justice institutions?
The Supreme Judicial Council had created specialised courts for dealing with human rights violations. How did these courts work to hold the Islamic State accountable? Had any convictions been achieved? How did the State party ensure that there was no bias in investigations? Counter-terrorism measures should not lead to ethnic or religious bias. Was the State party working to ensure this?
The Committee congratulated the State party on the adoption of the Yazidi Survivors Act, which included reparations for victims of sexual violence. There were reports that funds for survivors’ families were insufficient. What amounts were provided and what entity was tasked with the implementation of these measures? How did the State party prevent revictimization of the victims of sexual violence? Children born of rape were considered to be Muslims, which could lead to succession problems. Had the State party considered this?
Ethnic minorities experienced barriers to accessing health centres. There were fewer health centres in areas inhabited by the Yazidis. Ethnic minorities also experienced discrimination in healthcare facilities. What measures were in place to address this? How was the State party tackling child mortality among ethnic and religious minorities?
The Ministry of Education did not have enough resources to support teaching in minority languages and there was a low enrolment rate among ethnic minorities. How many schools taught in minority languages? How was the State party addressing the enrolment rate?
Parliament had a system of quotas, with seats assigned for Christians, Yazidis and Syriacs. This seemed to run counter to the Constitution. Could the delegation explain? What was the security situation of ethnic minorities living in disputed territories, including the Nineveh Plains?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the census’ purpose was not to determine the size of ethnic minority populations. The Government did not want any entity to use such information to conduct discriminatory practices against ethnic communities in Iraq.
The Government had provided redress to Yazidis and other persons affected by the activities of ISIS. Meals and psychological treatment were provided to returnees who had been subjected to ISIS’s terrorist ideology. Persons were returned to their places of origin after security checks. A department for female survivors had been set up to provide direct support to that group. Survivors were provided with a monthly salary. Land had been distributed to survivors in Sinjar in May 2024. Many female abductees remained out of the country. The Supreme Judicial Council had allowed for video conferences to be held to determine whether persons outside of the country could receive salaries.
The Prime Minister had approved measures to allow for DNA analysis of victims found overseas. Searches for missing Yazidis and members of other communities were carried out. Many people had been returned to their families. A psychological rehabilitation programme for survivors had been finalised, and a project to build shelters for survivors would soon be approved. A minute of silence was held on 3 August to commemorate victims. There were plans to establish a database of detainees and abductees. Funds had been allocated to reward persons who submitted information about missing persons. Around 61 mass graves had been exhumed, with around 30 remaining. Funerals had been held and remains had been handed over to families. The law on Yazidi survivors was being amended and a bill on international crimes was being developed.
Measures were in place to support displaced persons to return to the Nineveh Plains. More than 1,500 police officers and 1,000 judicial officers had been deployed to affected regions. The Government was working to reopen all services in these areas. The State party was working with United Nations agencies to monitor the situation in Sinjar and promote peace and stability. A department for survivors’ issues had been set up under the Ministry of Labour. State-supervised non-governmental organizations provided support to children who were rejected by their families.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said that recently, there was controversy surrounding the election of the Kirkuk Governor. Many stakeholders raised serious concerns about the legitimacy of the elections and street protests were held. Could information be provided about the background of this problem? What measures were in place to alleviate these issues?
Another Committee Expert asked about measures in place to support students who spoke languages not taught in schools. What measures would the State party take to preserve the cultural and linguistic features of ethnic minorities? What happened to the children of Iraqi women who married foreigners? Could they receive Iraqi nationality?
A Committee Expert said that the report stated that local peace communities were being formed in the Nineveh Plains. What was their status today? What measures were in place to address gender-based violence and rape against ethnic minorities, and how effective had these measures been? Had persons been prosecuted for such crimes and had redress been provided to victims? The Committee welcomed efforts to address displacement, but no information had been provided on the establishment of the national reconciliation process.
Another Committee Expert commended the State party on measures to rehabilitate women and children. How many child soldiers had been recovered, rehabilitated, and provided with mental health treatment? What was being done to support children born as a result of rapes committed by Daesh?
One Committee Expert asked about the vibrancy of the non-governmental organization sector and their input to the State party’s report, which was well-structured.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that after 2014, Iraqi society had been the target of extremism nation-wide. Terrorist attacks had occurred against Government property. Authorities had intervened to counter risks stemming from this situation. In 2019, the Government adopted a national plan to combat extremism and set up a committee to counter violent extremism. Sub-committees were created in each province. A national day to commemorate counter-terrorist activities had also been established. The Government was working to mobilise the youth and strengthen citizenship. Schools taught moderation. The media was raising awareness and distributing messages designed to strengthen national values. Rules had been established to ensure that religion was not instrumentalised for political purposes. Projects and programmes had been established to combat extremism in different settings.
In Baghdad University, Syriac language had been taught for the past three years, and there was also a Hebrew language unit. Kurdish language was taught in Kirkuk University. The Ministry of Education was cooperating with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to support access to education for displaced children. University scholarships were provided to vulnerable students. Education courses were provided in displacement camps by mobile teams. Measures were also in place to strengthen access to education in regions affected by conflict, where educational establishments had been set up. Ten faculties were established in the Nineveh Plains. Several programmes had been launched in universities for students who were victims of violence. The Government had adopted the Safe Schools project, which aimed to protect students in regions affected by conflict.
The Ministry of Education was working to protect the status of teachers. It was promoting diversity among teaching staff and empowering education in minority languages. School textbooks for Christian education had been drafted.
Many families had entered the Jeddah camp, though many had since left and returned to their places of origin. There were around 2,300 persons still living in the camp. The camp had social reintegration workshops and sports, arts, crafts, leisure and educational programmes. There was follow-up on all psychological rehabilitation activities by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said communities such as the Zoroastrians had complained of being severely discriminated against. What measures were in place to protect them?
People of African descent and the Roma were victims of various forms of discrimination. Persons with brown skin lived in poverty and had difficulties accessing employment. How was the State party combatting the issues faced by these groups? Many Roma did not have identity cards. What was being done to address this?
Could more information be provided on migrants, asylum seekers and displaced persons? What measures were in place to combat the exploitation of migrant workers? Migrant workers, including domestic workers, were subjected to low wages and long hours, including non-payment of overtime. Could more information be provided on labour inspections? How were migrant workers protected from exploitation? What remedies were available to exploited migrant workers? Did the State party carry out awareness raising campaigns for migrant workers about their rights?
What measures were taken to raise the awareness of public officials about matters pertaining to ethnic and religious minorities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Iraq was engaging in affirmative action through quotas in political bodies. All persons could apply for public official positions, provided that they had the required skills. There were Christians in senior positions in the Government.
Iraqi nationality was granted to foreigners who married Iraqi women if they chose to abandon their nationality. Children of foreign fathers and Iraqi mothers received Iraqi nationality.
Senior-ranking police officers had been prosecuted for human rights violations. Around 120 complaints against police officers were currently being assessed by the courts.
Around 14,500 migrant workers with labour permits were registered with the State. Domestic workers with work permits were entitled to the minimum wage and social security. Inspection teams oversaw their situation. Complaints were filed against employers who failed to pay domestic workers. The State could not monitor migrant workers who did not have work permits – such persons were illegal aliens.
Citizens were entitled to treatment in health facilities. In 2023 and 2024, 91 hospitals and 57 health centres were opened by the State. Over 240 health centres were currently being constructed. The State was working toward universal health coverage. Unemployed youth, the elderly and children under five were covered by the health insurance scheme. A committee was created to provide health care to survivors. Around 2,000 people had been treated outside of Iraq. Nineveh and Sinjar hospitals had been expanded to support returnees.
The Ministry of Social Affairs had created a committee to promote human rights education and prevent children from being used in military groups. It was working to reintegrate children affected by armed conflict in society. Over 1,000 such children had been returned to their families.
Roma persons were granted Iraqi nationality and had access to identity cards. Persons with dark skin were covered by the Constitution as having equal rights with other Iraqis. The Zoroastrian religion was recognised by the Kurdistan Government, along with other religious affiliations. Foreign workers in Kurdistan had the right to social security. There was a free hotline that workers could use to report workplace abuse. Several exploitative businesses had been shut down.
Questions by Committee Experts
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said there were high rates of illiteracy among people of African descent and other ethnic minorities. Children who were born out of rape did not have identity documents. What measures would the State party take to address these worrying situations?
Could Zoroastrian persons exercise their religion freely and fully? How was the State party promoting the full enjoyment of the rights of the Roma community and of people of African descent?
A Committee Expert said the Committee had previously called on the State party to take concrete measures to address discrimination against the Roma. Could the State party provide data on the number of Roma employed in Government departments? The Committee had also called on the State party to combat structural discrimination against people of African descent. What measures were in place to address the stigmatisation and marginalisation of people of African descent?
Another Committee Expert asked whether there was a law to protect human rights defenders who defended minorities. What was the status of investigations into repression by police in 2019? Had convictions been handed down?
Descendants of slaves had lived in Iraq for around 1,000 years, but they continued to be second-class citizens. People with black skin continued to be called “slaves”. How was the State party teaching children about the history of slavery? Persons of African descent were not represented in public and political life. How would the State party promote their participation?
Had the State party ratified the two statelessness conventions? Was there a national action plan to combat statelessness? What measures were in place to ensure that rural and minority communities had access to water and that there was no cut off in water to these communities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that by acquiring Iraqi nationality, the Roma could access basic services. The Government needed to provide health services in regions where the Roma lived. Education needed to be provided to Roma children. The Ministry of Housing was providing accommodation to the Roma, who could access public sector jobs. Inspections of medical facilities in regions where the Roma lived had been carried out.
The law prohibited all forms of discrimination against people of African descent. People of African descent had access to State services on an equal footing with other citizens.
The Government had formed a committee to set policies for displaced communities. A Government programme on closing displacement camps was underway. Returns were carried out on a voluntary basis. Four million dinars were allocated for families in camps wishing to return to their places of origin. About 1,000 people had returned to their places of origin in 2024. Around 750 income-generating projects had been set up for displaced persons and school items had been distributed to children. More than one million food items had also been distributed to displaced families. Allowances were distributed to 74,000 families. The Ministry of Immigration had distributed over 1,000 baskets of clothes to people returning to Sinjar this year. More than 5,000 families had left camps. Over 300 identification cards had been distributed to children of unknown parents.
A committee had been established to investigate violations committed in 2019. The committee had submitted its recommendations to the Prime Minister, which would be approved. Around 300 claims for compensation were being considered by the Supreme Judicial Council. Over 11,000 persons had been injured in the violence. Persons with disabilities were sent outside Iraq for treatment.
Kirkuk had ethnically separated electoral blocks, which had led to delay in the formation of a government. The Prime Minister had met with the leaders of the different political blocks and developed a four-year plan for the governate, which involved the rotation of leadership of the governate’s administrative political council among the blocks. The Turkmen party had not participated in talks, so its posts were currently vacant. The Government was encouraging the participation of the Turkmen party in the administration of the region. Election campaigns would begin next month in Kurdistan region.
The Ministry of Education was keen to eradicate illiteracy. Literacy centres had been opened nationwide, including in prisons. In regions with high populations of people of African descent, there were 20 literacy centres that had achieved positive results. All terminology and photographs used in textbooks were assessed to ensure that they did not discriminate against people of African descent. Persons who used racist terms, including the term “slave”, could be fined or imprisoned. Persons who were discriminated against could make claims in court.
The State party had over 200 partner non-governmental organization networks that had read the report and made observations and recommendations, which the State party had assessed.
Remarks by a Committee Expert
FAITH DIKELEDI PANSY TLAKULA, Committee Expert and Follow-Up Rapporteur, said the Committee’s secretariat had reported that the State party’s most recent follow-up report could not be found. She called on the State party to submit a follow-up to the concluding observations that the Committee would devise for the current report.
Concluding Remarks
IBRAHIMA GUISSE, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said the dialogue had been constructive and the delegation’s answers sincere. The Committee focused on facts, which allowed it to analyse whether progress had been made. Iraq had trod a hard path and the Committee was aware of the efforts made by the State party to put the country back on course. Most ministries were represented in the delegation, which made the information provided cross-cutting.
ABDUL-KARIM HASHIM MOSTAFA, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, said Iraq reaffirmed its commitment to its international obligations, including under the Convention. It recognised the importance of positive interaction with the treaty bodies. The review was a crucial opportunity to take stock of progress made in promoting human rights. The delegation welcomed the Committee’s constructive and positive approach. The State party would continue to work with the Committee to promote and protect human rights and implement its obligations under the Convention. Through these efforts, human rights would be strengthened in Iraq.
MICHAL BALCERZAK, Committee Chair, expressed gratitude to the delegation for the efforts made to answer the Committee’s questions and participate in the intensive dialogue. While members of the Committee were free to express their views, not everything said by individual members represented the views of the whole Committee, which would be expressed through the concluding observations.
KHALID SALAM SAEED, Minster of Justice of Iraq and head of the delegation, said that the Iraqi State party had implemented measures to ensure the implementation of the Convention. It looked forward to receiving the Committee’s upcoming concluding observations, which it would examine carefully to develop national strategies and policies. The dialogue was an opportunity to discuss progress in combatting racial discrimination. Mr. Saeed expressed Iraq’s determination to promote and protect the human rights of all its citizens without discrimination. The State party would continue to work hard to ensure the implementation of the Committee’s concluding observations.
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