The Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) completed a two-day training in Baghdad for Iraqi judicial, security and law enforcement officials on ‘Cooperation with the United Nations Human Rights System on Protection from and Prevention of Enforced Disappearances’. Participants included 25 representatives, including eight women, from the Ministries of Defence, Interior, Justice, Foreign Affairs, and the High Judicial Council respectively.  The training was delivered by a team of expert speakers including two members of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances and a representative of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Center for South-West Asia and Arab Region. Key topics covered during the inter-active training included: Iraq’s international human rights obligations to protect all persons from enforced disappearance; the centrality of providing accountability and redress for victims, including through effective efforts to search for the missing; improving engagement between the Government and  United Nations mechanisms to promote the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances; international best practice in conducting effective investigations into enforced disappearances; and the importance of enacting comprehensive national legislation to prevent enforced disappearances in accordance with Iraq’s international human rights obligations. Speaking at the event, Mr Rupert White, the Officer in Charge of UNAMI Human Rights Office emphasized that, “This training marks a welcome step in developing closer cooperation and coordination between Iraq and the United Nations Human Rights Mechanisms which will enable the issue of enforced disappearances to be addressed through a process grounded in Iraq’s international human rights obligations, based on a shared desire to uphold the rights of those most affected.” The training forms part of UNAMI Human Rights Office’s ongoing support to the Government of Iraq to improve its capacity to investigate allegations of enforced disappearances in Iraq and provide accountability and redress for victims.

The Human Rights Office of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) conducted a one-day training for civil society organizations on ‘United Nations Human Rights System on Protection from and Prevention of Enforced Disappearances’ held in Baghdad. The training, attended by 11 representatives of civil society organizations working in the field of protection from enforced disappearances, was delivered by three international experts: two members of the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances and a representative of the United Nations Human Rights Training and Documentation Centre for South-West Asia and Arab Region.  Participants discussed the key role of civil society organizations in promoting protection against enforced disappearances, including by providing support to victims and their families to obtain justice and redress, as well as through their engagement with UN Treaty Body Mechanisms. Participants also discussed the urgent need for the enactment of a comprehensive national law on the protection of all persons from enforced disappearances, in line with Iraq’s international human rights obligations.  Speaking at the event, Mr Rupert White, the Officer in Charge of UNAMI Human Rights Office emphasized that "addressing the continuing problem of enforced disappearance in Iraq requires a coordinated response by all stakeholders and Iraqi civil society plays a key role in encouraging the Government of Iraq to take all necessary steps to put an end to enforced disappearance, provide redress to victims and hold the perpetrators to account.”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates  - 07 November 2021 - Forensic evidence has an immense value in aiding criminal investigators, the police, and prosecutors, in bringing criminals to justice and solving crimes. In illicit trafficking and organized crime cases, forensic investigation can play a crucial role in providing and analyzing evidence for the adjudication of cases. For example, when suspicious powder or pills are seized from a certain crime scene, it is up to the forensic services in the laboratory to identify the composition of these substances and whether it is indeed a prohibited narcotic, not only that, but forensic services can also link these substances to other criminal cases, track its sources and where it was manufactured, thereby helping authorities in capturing major criminal networks and not only the low-level dealers and users. Considering the international component of illicit trafficking and organized crime and the continuous adaptability of methods criminal use to avoid detection, regional and international cooperation are key for an effective intervention. The need for knowledge exchange and cooperation between law-enforcement authorities in the region is crucial to tackle the issue in a comprehensive manner. To counter that, Iraqi authorities have been enhancing their response and partnering with UNODC to enhance their capacities. As part of the project “Strengthening the Capacities of Iraqi Law Enforcement and Criminal Investigation Services (2020-2023),” funded by the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), UNODC organized a study tour for nine Iraqi forensic experts to the Emirati forensic services. The Iraqi team was made of crime scene and narcotics forensic experts part of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Ministry of Health (MoH). Some of the study tour’s foreseen short-term and long-term achievements include the development of recommendations by the Iraqi delegation based on the outcome of the visit, the creation of a forensic networking channel focused on tackling criminal networks related to narcotics and psychotropic substances and the establishment of cooperation mechanisms for forensic intelligence and information exchange. The tour was hosted by the General Department of Forensic Science and Criminology (GD-FRC) in Dubai, as this institution was previously noted by the Iraqi forensic services as one of the most significant key partners they envision collaborating with on the issue of countering illicit trafficking. The Iraqi delegation, represented by Major-General Raheem Hashim Mohammed, thanked UNODC and UAE for their efforts and noted that the “UAE and Iraq have a lot of mutual similarities and a shared vision for the future. Developing a strong expertise in forensics is crucial for our security forces to be able to face challenges that target our nation.” During the 4-day study tour, Iraqi participants exchanged experiences through case studies with their Emirati counterparts. Moreover, they were also able to visit specialized and relevant sections/departments of the GD-FRC. As the senior pharmacist manager of the laboratories in the Iraqi Medical Legal Directorate (MLD), Dr. Zeinab Kareem Jaafar added that the scientific expertise does exist in Iraq, but the advanced equipment is missing as well as proper SOPs. Dr. Jaafar highlighted that “Drugs’ forensics is a broad field and not a routine one. It is not exclusive to men or women, in my opinion, but I believe women can have a better ability for investigative work. As a matter of fact, in the MLD we have a lot of women in leadership positions as heads of departments.” In the final day, recommendations were developed by both the Iraqi delegation from the Ministries of Interior and Health regarding key steps for improving their forensics services, as well as possible future channels of exchange of knowledge and experience in forensic services between Iraq and the UAE. Mr. Raheem affirmed that “Crime is rapidly advancing. We should aim to develop forensics and use new techniques and equipment that are important to analyze forensic evidence. Developing our capacities will be beneficial to the whole country. This visit is the main foundation for building a future for forensic services in Iraq, I’m confident this will enable us to counter illicit trafficking and organized crime more effectively.”

Baghdad, Iraq (ILO News) A one day workshop funded by the European Union focusing on maternity protection was organised by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Baghdad on Tuesday (November 2). The workshop, which brought together representatives of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the women's department in the Ministry of Industry and Minerals, employers’ and workers’ representatives, is part of efforts to support progress towards Iraq’s ratification of ILO Maternity Protection Convention, 2000 (No. 183).
The convention  seeks to ensure that the right to work and rights at work of all employed women are adequately protected during maternity and beyond. It sets standards for health protection, maternity leave, benefits, nursing, employment protection and non-discrimination.
ILO specialists on gender, social security and International Labour Standards held sessions, which focused on the key provisions of ILO Convention No.183; gaps in the legal and regulatory framework for maternity protection; the role of social security in guaranteeing maternity protection; and the broader implications of maternity protection for gender equality and women’s participation in the labour market. The event also shed light on Social Security (Minimum Standards) Convention, 1952 (No. 102) .
With support from the European Union, the ILO, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), are implementing a joint programme with the Government of Iraq to reform social protection in the country.
The ILO, through the joint programme, is providing technical support in the development of the draft retirement and social security law. The draft law is intended to replace the current Social Security Law No. 39 of 1971. If passed, the draft law will bring in several changes that would make the Iraqi social security legislation closer to meeting the minimum requirements of International Labour Standards.
“The ongoing efforts for the ratification of Convention No.183 and Convention No.102 will enhance and increase women’s access to decent work in Iraq,” said Maha Kattaa, ILO Country Coordinator in Iraq.

Iraq has ratified 70 ILO conventions , including all eight fundamental conventions and three of the four governance conventions.