Appointment of PM-designate: now is the time to act in the interest of the Iraqi people

The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, emphasizes the urgency of current circumstances: “At this stage, time is of the essence, and the situation calls for decisive action. Iraq cannot afford band-aid solutions or coercive measures”.

While talks about the Prime Minister-designate are ongoing, the country faces an emerging pattern of abductions and targeted killings of human rights defenders and demonstrators. SRSG Hennis-Plasschaert: “It is the ultimate responsibility of the State to protect its people. Abductions, unlawful arrests and heinous killings have no place in a democracy. They must not become ‘the new normal’ in Iraq”. Iraq’s political leaders must assume this responsibility by responding to the rightful demands for reform without further delay.”