UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kate Gilmore, currently on official visit to Iraq

The United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Kate Gilmore, currently on an official visit to Iraq, met on Sunday 17 April 2016, with the Chair of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee, Mr. Arshid al Salehi

During the discussion, Mr. al Salehi briefed the Deputy High Commissioner about the human rights and rule of law challenges that Iraq is facing as well as actions that his Committee is undertaking to address these challenges. He noted that his Committee is working actively on monitoring the human rights situation throughout Iraq, as well as on a number of new laws that are intended to enhance the respect for the rights of all Iraq’s people, including a human rights law, an anti discrimination law, a law to protect the rights of diverse ethnic and religious communities, and a freedom of information and expression law.

Mr. al Salehi called for greater technical assistance and support from the international community for the work of his committee and for more concrete steps to assist with promoting the understanding and respect for human rights and the rule of law among Iraq’s political leadership.

The Deputy High Commissioner stressed the critical role that the Parliamentary human rights committee is playing in promoting the respect and protection of human rights throughout Iraq, and she offered the full support of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights for the work of his Committee.

“Given the tragic history of Iraq, with its terrible legacy of human rights violations committed against all Iraq’s communities, it is all too apparent that many today are focused solely on the events of the past. While there must be accountability and justice for past crimes, it is important to focus on the future. The respect and protection of human rights and rule of law offers Iraq the best framework on which the future of the country can be built to ensure that Iraq becomes a pluralistic democratic State in which all its citizens can play a full and equal part without discrimination,” Ms. Gilmore said.

During her week-long visit to Iraq, Ms Gilmore intends to meet with a range of political, community and religious leaders as well as members of civil society, in order to obtain a clearer understanding of the human rights and rule of law challenges facing Iraq, the potential solutions to those challenges, and to learn of ways that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights can assist the Government and people of Iraq build a better future for all Iraq’s people.