THE COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL RIGHTS EXAMINES REPORT OF IRAQ

The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights yesterday and today considered the fourth report of Iraq on the implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

Hassan Janabi, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that war, terrorism and the occupation by the so-called Islamic State of one third of the territory, as well the reduction in oil prices, were the main obstacles preventing the Iraqi Government from protecting and promoting economic, social and cultural rights of its citizens. However, the Government was mindful of the need to fulfill its obligations in spite of the current situation. Iraq had been a pioneer in achieving development and great progress in economic, social and cultural rights in the 1970s. Iraq had made great progress in combatting illiteracy which at the time had been close to zero. Unfortunately, the nature of the Government had changed into an abstract dictatorship with tribal ideologies and the country had entered a dark tunnel in the 1980s, which was characterized, among other things, by hundreds of thousands of citizens killed by the regime, the economic embargo on Iraq and the drying up of the Mesopotamian marshes. After 2003, the State had been under occupation and the situation had deteriorated due to the disintegration of the Army and the police forces, rampant inflation, poverty, the absence of democracy and opportunities to develop, which had led to more oppression.

Committee Experts recognized the difficult conditions in Iraq and appreciated the delegation’s efforts to provide responses in spite of that. They highlighted issues such as the lack of statistical data, the adoption of international conventions, the tangible effects of international assistance, the independence of the judiciary, discrimination, unemployment and the minimum wage and the eruption of cholera. Questions were also asked about the situation of internally displaced persons and refugees, homelessness and the lack of housing, malnutrition, child labour, the drought caused by the dams on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the measures undertaken to protect minorities and minority languages, and access to education. Experts inquired why the Human Rights Ministry and the Women’s Rights Ministry had been dismantled. They raised serious concern regarding women’s rights, including violence against women, trafficking, rape, domestic violence, and sexual slavery, especially with regards to the thousands of women who had been kidnapped by the Islamic State. The problem of honour killings was discussed at length. Serious concern was also raised regarding the health sector, the lack of health institutions, and the flight of doctors.

In concluding remarks, Maria Virginia Bras Gomes, Committee Member and Country Rapporteur, said that it was understandable that the lack of control of territory affected the ability of the State to protect and promote economic, social and cultural rights, however the State party had obligations to protect its citizens. The Committee hoped that the State party would implement the policies in that spirit and was ready to assist Iraq in any way it could.

Mr. Janabi extended a heartfelt thanks to all members of the Committee for the guidance provided and apologized if any areas were not sufficiently addressed.

Waleed Sadi, Committee Chairperson, expressed his understanding that the delegation did not include experts form the capital for obvious reasons, including financial constraints and the war. Iraq used to be a regional power, and a day would arrive when it would regain its statue and strength.

The delegation included representatives of the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iraq.

The Committee will next meet at 3 p.m. today to discuss the report or Morocco (E/C.12/MAR/4).

Report

The fourth periodic report of Iraq can be read here: E/C.12/IRQ/4.

Presentation of the Report

HASSAN JANABI, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that he was thankful for the Committee’s understanding of the situation. However, the Government was mindful of the need to fulfill its obligations in spite of the situation. It was the country’s fourth report, but its first after 2003, the year in which a change had taken place from a dictatorship to a government allowing citizens to enjoy all rights.

Iraq had an ancient history and was the cradle of the first human civilizations. It had been a pioneer in achieving development and great progress in economic, social and cultural rights in the 1970s. At the time, infrastructure had been advanced, there had been clinics and hospitals, and cultural education had been given high consideration. Iraq had made great progress in combatting illiteracy, which at the time had been close to zero. Unfortunately, the nature of the Government had changed into an abstract dictatorship with tribal ideologies and entered a dark tunnel in the 1980s, which had been characterized, among other things, by hundreds of thousands of citizens killed by the regime, the economic embargo on Iraq following the war with Kuwait, and the drying up of the Mesopotamian marshes, an area twice the size of Lebanon, which produced 60 percent of the food and animal produce. After 2003, the State had been under occupation and the situation had deteriorated due to the disintegration of the major constituents of the State, including the Army and the police forces, rampant inflation, poverty, the absence of democracy and opportunities to develop, which had led to more oppression. Mr. Janabi said that the rise in terrorism, and especially the plague of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) since June 2014, was currently the main obstacle, in addition to the destruction of infrastructure, which hindered the promotion and protection of economic, social or cultural rights.

Current positive developments included the establishment of an independent Human Rights Commission, the political regime change from a centrally controlled Government to a decentralized system, and opportunities for investment, as well as the right of ownership and the movement of capital. The current Government enjoyed the support of the people as well as the international community, which had made international cooperation possible. However, the impact of the fall in oil prices negatively affected the implementation of several development projects throughout the country. Free elections had taken place over the previous 11 years, while women’s participation in political and public life had been encouraged. The Constitution allowed women to sit in the Parliament where women currently held 83 seats. In addition, the law had been amended in order to allow Iraqi women married to foreigners and to pass on the Iraqi nationality to their children. There were also attempts to allow freedom of worship, reuse of ethnic languages and the creation of Christian and Yezidi schools.

Questions by Experts

MARIA VIRGINIA BRAS GOMES, Committee Member and Country Rapporteur, recognized that the State party had undergone many hardships, including eight years of war with Iran, an embargo, the United States invasion, severe effects of ongoing armed groups, the reinforced political and ethnic discrimination, and ISIL acts which amounted to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and most likely genocide.

There was a huge list of legislative measures initiatives and programmes, however there was very little information on the results of measures taken. What had the impact of those measures been?

There was a lack of statistical data and no disaggregation on the grounds of discrimination.

The Human Rights Ministry and the Women’s Affairs Ministry had been dismantled, the Expert noted. What were the plans for the future? How did the Government plan to implement women’s rights?

There were 270,000 refugees from Palestine, Syria, and other countries, and this was an important number. Was Iraq party to the Refugee Convention? There were also over two million internally displaced persons. Were the national policy for displacement and strategic plan based on a human rights approach?

Another Expert was pleased to see the recent adoption of several international conventions. Could the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights be directly invoked in domestic courts?

What were the effects of economic cooperation and international assistance on infrastructure, health and education, the Expert asked.

Question was asked about political strategies and public policies to strengthen the protection of women in Iraq from fierce threats such as those coming from the Islamic State?

Another Expert inquired what measures were in place to improve the independence of the judiciary.

Where all available resources used to fulfill economic social and cultural rights? Between 2005 and 2012, Iraq had had a very high growth rate, however, despite the growth, the reduction of poverty had been only 4 percent, according to the World Bank.

Corruption was allegedly very widespread. What measures were used to fight that trend?

Iraq had not yet incorporated all grounds for discrimination in its legal order, and attacks by officials on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual individuals had been noted. What measures were in place to protect those individuals form attacks and discrimination?

The labour force participation of women was much lower than that of men. What was being done in that regard, an Expert asked.

Another Expert asked whether the Iraqi National Commission for Human Rights was entitled to receive complaints from victims of human rights violations and whether it had competence to deal with them.

Was the Government considering ratification of the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?

An Expert said that Iraq had been one of the pioneers in promoting social, economic and cultural rights. The new Constitution referred to Sharia as the basic source of legislation. How did that affect the vision of the Government in terms of the requirements contained in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights?
Another Expert regretted that there was only one paragraph addressing the issues of the equality of women. The amendment of the Nationality Act which allowed women to transfer their nationality to their children was commendable. Who was now in charge in dealing with the issues related to discrimination against women, after the dismantling of the Women’s Rights Ministry?

Had the draft law which would allow the marriage of girls as young as nine been adopted?

Allegedly apart from the Kurdistan Region, non-governmental organisations were not allowed to build shelters for women. Was the Government building shelters?

An Expert required details on the impact of droughts on the population.

Another Expert asked if human rights education was offered in schools and whether it was based on international standards.

Question was asked about measures taken to address the increasing unemployment in recent years Had a minimum wage been established?

Another Expert asked for statistics and dynamics in youth and long-term unemployment. What measures were being undertaken to curtail those phenomena?

How large was the informal economy and what proportion of the population was engaged in it, an Expert inquired.

The issue of disability was raised. What was the percentage of persons with disabilities and were programmes available for their employment?

Had the State party ratified International Labour Convention 87 and, if not, were there intentions to do so?

Could the delegation clarify the situation on trade unions? Were restrictions removed in the draft law under consideration?

Another Expert stated that there was no information on the Labour Law adopted in 2015.

Was the State party considering the establishment of a Social Protection Floor? Could more information be provided on social protection?

Was there intention to change the retirement age for women?

An Expert asked for more information on child labour.

Replies by the Delegation

The delegation said that due to the recent change in Government, his team was not the one that had provided the information. Nonetheless, the delegation would do their best to respond to most of the questions.

Turning to the questions on poverty and whether it was the main reason for extremism in Iraq, the delegation agreed that poverty did lead to radical tendencies. Terrorism was a global issue, and the local circumstances played less of a role than other factors. There were 30,000 foreign fighters joining ISIL in Iraq, who had come from the West, and they were neither poor nor marginalized. Those fighters had nothing to do with Iraq, however they went there and perpetrated the most atrocious crimes.

The Government agreed that there was an epidemic of corruption, which was a global problem. After 35 years of the dictatorship, occupation and the collapse of the State in 2011, the soil was fertile for the widespread plague of corruption. Currently, there was a move from a country controlled by one person to a pluralistic State with an accountable Government. Before the occupation of Mosul, terrorists had been active in those cities and had been collecting royalties from families. The Government was currently implementing a reform package.

The delegation explained that most of the staff who used to work at the Ministry of Human Rights were now working for the National Human Rights Commission in order to strengthen the Commission.

Iraq had been affected by the climate change, but also due to the fact that 80 percent of Iraqi waters was supplied by Tigris and Euphrates rivers, that flew from Turkey, Iran and Syria. Problems also came from the dams built by those countries to control the rivers, which contributed to droughts, destruction of biodiversity and increase in poverty. Iraq could not face those problems alone.

International cooperation in the field of health and education had not achieved much, and progress was much smaller than required, the delegation said.

Regarding the lateness of the promulgation of certain legislation, a delegate replied that whereas before 2003 laws had been promulgated in one day due to the abusive power of the dictator, following the 2005 Constitution, adoption of legislation was slower due to parliamentary procedures.

The Constitution of 2005 separated powers of the executive, legislative and judiciary, and stipulated that the judiciary was fully independent. The Law on Sanctions of 1959 stipulated that anyone who interfered with the judiciary was sanctioned.

With regard to the discrimination against individuals from the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual community, the Constitution stipulated that Iraq was a Muslim state. There was no discrimination between those individuals and other citizens, as they could all present themselves before the law.

On the compatibility of laws with international instruments, the delegation explained that the Iraqi Constitution in the second chapter stipulated all economic, social and cultural rights, and all laws and rulings were based on the Constitution.

Half a billion dollars had been provided to build camps and provide assistance in kind to the internally displaced persons.

The Human Rights Commission was working according to the Paris Principles, and had achieved a B rating. The Commission received complaints and could look into them.

A delegate stated that Iraqi women had enjoyed rights already a century ago. However, due the internal civil conflicts, there had been a decline in their leading role. The Iraqi Constitution of 2005 stated that equality of opportunity was guaranteed to all Iraqis and provided grounds for non-discrimination. The National Strategy against Violence Against Women had documented worsening conditions due to the deteriorating security situation.

The draft law legalizing marriage at the age of nine had been abolished by the Parliament, and the current legal age was set at 18.

A Law on Trade Unions had been introduced in 2015, and there were no prohibitions on the right to organize in trade unions. The minimum wage had been 20,000 Iraqi dinars per month in 2003, and 150,000 today, which provided for a decent standard of living.

The delegation explained that Iraq was comprised of 13 different ethnic groups, including Christians, Assyrians, Zoroastrians, Jews and others. After 2003, there had been a quantum leap in the rights of various groups.

Questions by Experts

An Expert said that health care was problematic and unaffordable for many Iraqis, especially vulnerable groups such as the internally displaced persons and women. Health facilities, goods and services had to be accessible to everyone without discrimination.

Women who were victims of gender-based violence and trafficking did not receive any support and often committed suicide. What measures were in place to improve their situation?

Another Expert commended the State party for reducing the rate of poverty, however poverty was still high. Could the delegation provide current figures? What measures were taken to combat poverty, particularly among rural communities, children, Roma and other minority groups that had been targeted by ISIL? Another Expert inquired whether the Government aimed to adopt a cross-cutting plan to fight poverty.

What corrective measures were taken to deal with the acute shortage of housing, particularly in rural areas, an Expert inquired.

Did the Government aim to come up with solutions to address problem of homelessness, especially among children? How did the Government deal with irregular settlements? Question was also asked about measures taken to deal with the deplorable conditions of the internally displaced populations, who lived in camps, often without drinking water, food and baby medicines.

An Expert said that even though Turkey had the main responsibility for the dams on the Tigris and the Euphrates, Iraq also was responsible for not coming up with an agreement. Could the delegation comment on that?

The reference to honour killings in the Penal Code was discriminatory against women. Would that discriminatory clause be removed?

Another Expert noted that the Committee had received information that over the previous 12 years, half of the health professionals had left the country. Around 41 percent of health centres consequently faced a shortage of qualified doctors. Between 600 and 2,000 doctors had been murdered. Were there training programmes for medical professionals, or a programme to motivate health professionals to return ?

Maternal and child mortality was understandable in the areas where conflict was severe, but what explained high levels in areas where there was no conflict? What programmes were in place to bring those levels down?

Another Expert raised a number of questions on the subject of water. Was there cooperation between Iraq and Turkey regarding the rivers of the Tigris and the Euphrates? What were the results of the plan that had been in place previously?

An Expert stated that there was no reference in the report to the National Strategy to combat Violence against Women. Could the Delegation provide concrete examples of the Strategy?

The Constitution guaranteed equality between various groups, but what were the difficulties in implementing Article 125 of the Constitution, an Expert asked.

Why was the State so sure that non-governmental organisations could not provide shelters for women?

Regarding State hostels for juveniles suffering from problems with families, an Expert wanted to know happened to them after they turned 18.

Allegedly children born in illegal marriages were not entitled to birth certificates – could the delegation elaborate?

Another Expert was struck by the fact that there was no reference to the right to food. In Baghdad 18 percent of girls and 17 percent of boys were malnourished, which was strongly correlated to the loss of a family member due to the conflict. Was there no strategy to fight malnutrition?

An Expert asked whether there was a campaign to combat obesity and what measures the State was undertaking to combat that problem.

Replies by the Delegation

The delegation said that the Government had planned anti-poverty measures, but those had been hampered by the war, which had also impacted the data. Youth unemployment was very high and often the only employment opportunity for young men was to join the Armed Forces. All means of the State were focused on controlling the security crisis.

The reduction in oil prices significantly impacted the budget and spending on economic, social and cultural rights. The result was cutting the budget expenses by 40 percent. There was no intention of reducing the salaries of lower wage brackets of salary groups. Another measure of austerity was that retired Members of Parliament would no longer have the same levels of benefits or be entitled to security guards.

Regarding the volumes of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, there was no agreement with Turkey and Iran, while the agreement with Syria was not in force, as it depended on Turkey, which was upstream. Turkey had two dams, with a capacity of 11 and 30 million cubic meters respectively, both of which could block the flow of water to the Tirgris for up to two years. Iraq had one dam, however its reservoir was practically empty. The so-called Islamic State controlled the area, as well as one of the dams in Syria. It was not known what was happening on the Syrian side of the border. There was no feedback from Turkey following negotiations in July 2015. There was no agreement with Iran, apart from the 1975 Agreement, which had ensured the use of the water in Basra.

The delegation said that there were more than 400 cases of cholera reported, but no deaths. The World Health Organization had intervened and provided technical assistance for treatment. Cholera was likely continue as a result of the drought.

The Constitution protected all persons, including persons with disabilities. In 2013 a Persons with Disabilities Act had been adopted in line with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to which Iraq had acceded in 2013. Due to the conflict, Iraq had a large number of persons with disabilities, but there was no disaggregated data. The Act foresaw that work places be adapted to wheelchairs, and cars be exempt from taxes; it also foresaw penalties for employers, with a fine up to 500 Iraqi dinars.

Regarding health, the delegation stated that the Constitution foresaw a large range of health services to be provided to citizens. Despite the challenges of embargoes and terrorist attacks, the Government had adopted a Strategic Plan 2013-2017, as well as a policy from 2014 to 2023. The health budget had increased from five to six percent of the total budget for the current year. There were now 255 State hospitals, as well as five community and civilian hospitals.

The flight of doctors from the country was due to the brain drain as a result of the embargo in search of better salaries. Since 2003, a salary increases had improved the economic situation of doctors, but no precise figures were available on the number that had left the country. In Kurdistan, there were 132 emergency wards, 79 State hospitals, as well as plans to build five obstetric and four pediatric hospitals. Iraq was working with the World Health Organisation and other organisations to set up training programmes for health professionals. Some 4,200 patients had been sent abroad for treatment.

Measures had been undertaken by the Government regarding violence against women, shelters, and the involvement of civil society organisations. Those included the formation of the Supreme Committee for the protection of the family; the introduction of a Women's Welfare Department at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs; the establishment of gender units in all Ministries and Government institutions; a Draft Law on domestic violence under study in the Council of State; and the adoption of the Law on protection of women against violence in the Kurdistan Region in 2012, which, inter alia, criminalized female genital mutilation.

The Government also worked together with a non-governmental organisation to combat violence against women which had risen sharply after the United States invasion in 2003. That organisation had built five shelters, including in the non-Kurdish parts of Iraq, namely in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Erbil and Nasariyeh, to provide women with security and support.

A National Strategy for Elimination of Violence against Women (2013-2017) had been approved in 2013, and aimed to promote the rights of Iraqi women of all ages and protect them from all forms of discrimination and violence. It contained the axes of prevention, care, protection, policies and implementation and was based on the Constitution, international instruments and national plans and policies.

Regarding the situation of minority women and those living in occupied areas, especially the Mosul region, the delegation said that the occupation by Daesh had resulted in the kidnapping, killing, raping and selling of women as slaves. At least 5,838 had been kidnapped, the majority of whom young women and even children. An office had been created in Iraqi Kurdistan in order to deal with the kidnapping of women, by saving them, buying them back, and treating them. There was a budget for buying back kidnapped women, covering all regions affected. Over 2,000 women had been saved that way, and then reintegrated into society. There was a gift of USD 30 million from the German Government for the rehabilitation of those women. Yezidi Center in Baghdad and Land Center in Kurdistan had set up programmes to reintegrate women in the society. Psychological care was also provided with the help of religious centres in Baghdad and Kurdistan and civil society organisations.

Concerning drafting of laws and implementation, the delegation said that a large number had been adopted, including the Social Protection Act, the Law for Protecting Collective Customs, as well as the Consumer Protection Act.

It was true that women and men were not treated equally when it came to honour crimes, which was due to the mentality. Since 2003, female Members of Parliament and civil society had been trying to redress that situation. Law 111-69 which was unfair, had been adopted. Kurdistan had eliminated discrimination between women and men, and it was hoped that other Iraqi laws would follow this example.
The Iraqi Government was taking necessary measures to fight the housing crisis by creating a funding scheme whereby loans were provided to build affordable housing. Land was provided to martyrs and civil servants. Necessary conditions had been secured for 600,000 persons.
The delegation informed that a committee had been set up for internally displaced persons in order to provide them with basic needs, including shelter in schools and universities. Teachers continued to teach in the places where those internally displaced persons had fled. The Ministry of the Interior had opened a centre for provision of identity documents.

Regarding child labour, it was explained that 6.4 percent of children aged between 5 and 14 had been working in 2011. The Government was trying to reduce the number by holding workshops, training initiatives and the establishment of social centres. Various organisations tried to put in place educational programs that encouraged child development and rehabilitation. Children whose parents were unknown were automatically considered Iraqi citizens and thus acquired Iraqi nationality.

Educational programmes had been put in place for children with disabilities.

Questions by Experts

An Expert asked what specific policies were in place to ensure access to education for internally displaced persons.

Another Expert wanted to know what the State was doing to respect and protect the cultural rights of the Hasidic minority and their right to live on their lands in peace and security.

What measures were in place to counter the disappearance of the Shabak language?

Why had amendments on the protection of several minority languages not gone through, an Expert inquired.

Concern was raised with regard to the destruction of religious and cultural heritage sites. What assistance was the Government seeking from international organizations to protect those sites of religious significance and what was it doing to reconstruct them?

Was there any criminal action taken against family members who violated or killed women once they were rescued and returned home? Were measures taken to change laws on gender-based trafficking and violence?

Were there corrective measures against violent acts of perpetrators of domestic violence? Were there any hotlines that were open all night, in addition to the shelters?

Aside from Kurdistan, the Expert asked if there laws forbidding crimes in the name of honour in other areas of Iraq. How was the Government changing the social mentality in that respect?

Could more specific data on the employment of persons with disabilities be provided?

Question was asked about children on the streets without protection.

Would the State Party do away with the policies on the expropriation without compensation of Assyrian Christians properties? Would it ensure that that and other minorities would have equal legal access without discrimination?

The delegation was asked to provide details on the institutional guarantees for independence of the judiciary.

Why had anti-poverty measures decreased during the seven years of intensive economic growth and how was the rate of poverty measured? What criteria compatible with the Covenant were in place for taking austerity measures?

The delegation had said that laws were based on Islam and conformed with democratic principles? What was meant by democratic principles, an Expert wanted to know.

Replies by the Delegation

Regarding the destruction of religious and cultural heritage sites, the Ministry of Tourism and Archaeology had set up field teams charged with inspections and fines for looted artifacts. Iraq managed to recover several thousand pieces of artifacts in cooperation with other Member States, which had been sold by the Islamic State on the world market.

The austerity and poverty situation was very complex. A Russian coupon programme had been implemented, saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of citizens. The oil for food programme had been in place for the previous 20 years. About one-fourth of the country’s resources were diverted to fighting ISIL, which had not been the case before 2014.

The Government had launched a programme to teach the Mandai language, which was approaching extinction in the capital. Measures including TV programmes promoted minority languages.

Meetings, posters, and seminars were held to raise the level of awareness of the rights of women and their protection from violence. In the Police Academy, a new curriculum had been introduced on how to deal with domestic violence. The Judicial Council had three female judges who oversaw the training of judges on how to deal with crimes of domestic violence. The Office of the Prime Minister also dealt with those issues. There was a free hotline, but, regrettably, not many women were aware of it. In the Ministry of Health there were service providers for victims of domestic violence.

Changing cultural mentalities required an environment which was conducive to changing mentalities and would take years.

There was no Government action to ensure that homeless and displaced Christians’ homes were repossessed. That was as general problem in the Middle East, with attacks and pressure exerted by ISIL, and had to be combatted on the international level. The Government could not ensure all conditions for a decent life. Building enough schools, hospitals and infrastructure took time and it was difficult to find teachers from one day to the next.

Questions by Experts

An Expert asked how the State dealt with the perpetrators of domestic violence, such as the father or husband. Did the law criminalize the actors of violence ? Was domestic violence recognized as a social crime? The hotline should be free of charge and operating 24 hours all year round.

Mentality did not change overnight, the Expert agreed, but the Government could work on it through dialogue with religious communities and through other measures.

Another Expert said that in Jordan laws criminalizing honour crimes had marked the start of changing mentalities.

What made terrorism different from other forms of violence, an Expert asked.

Replies by the Delegation

The delegation said that it had attempted to provide comprehensive answers. There were 30,000 combatants who had credit cards and weapons, who had come to fight in Iraq. The Committee should take all of that into account during its considerations.

With regard to honour crimes, it was explained that the courts handled both felonies and crimes.

Concluding Remarks

MARIA VIRGINIA BRAS GOMES, Committee Member and Country Rapporteur, stated that the dialogue ought not to be taken personally. The Committee was disappointed that not all questions had been responded to in detail. It would have been helpful to have members of the delegation from line Ministries, for the sake of more detailed response. It was understandable that the lack of control of territory affected the ability of the State to protect and promote economic, social and cultural rights, however the State party had obligations to protect its citizens. The Committee hoped that the State party would implement the policies in that spirit and was ready to assist Iraq in any way it could.

HASSAN JANABI, Permanent Representative of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Head of the Human Rights Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, extended a heartfelt thanks to all members of the Committee. He agreed with the country Rapporteur’s comments. He wished that the delegation could have included representatives of line Ministries, but that had not been possible due to financial constraints and the disestablishment of some Ministries. He thanked the Committee for the guidance provided, and apologized if any areas were not sufficiently addressed.

WALEED SADI, Committee Expert and Chairperson, recognized the fact that the delegation did not have experts form the capital for obvious reasons, including financial constraints and the war. The Committee had to take into consideration that the country was still in a state of war and that one third of the territory was occupied by ISIL. There was thus a limit to what the country could do. Even under the most difficult conditions, countries had to try to meet their obligations under the Covenant as that could be a way to begin the process of healing the wounds. The Committee had not seen a delegation from Iraq for many years, and hoped that the dialogue would be a lesson for what was to be expected in the future. Iraq used to be a regional power, and a day would arrive when it would regain its statue and strength.


For use of the information media; not an official record

ESC15/026E