Emphasis on free, fair and transparent elections as UNAMI and IHEC discuss electoral preparations

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, welcomed the IHEC Chair and the Board of Commissioners, underlining the Commission’s central role in ensuring an Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned process that is free, fair and transparent.

The Special Representative stressed that maintaining the independence of the Commission and bolstering the trust of Iraqis are key to successful elections, emphasizing the significance of this CoR elections in consolidating Iraq’s stability and strengthening its democratic institutions and mechanisms of good governance. 

In this context, he called on political parties to commit to a code of conduct that promotes peaceful, orderly, well-managed and credible elections, and to refrain from the use of money for political purposes, to ensure the integrity, independence, and transparency of the elections. He further stressed that the process must be inclusive and serve all Iraqis, regardless of sectarian, ethnic, or religious affiliation, while emphasizing the importance of the participation of women and minorities.