Universal Periodic Reports Training for Iraqi and Kurdistan Region Ministerial Committees on implementation of Human Rights Action Plans

The training session is part of the programme of technical support provided by the Human Rights Office (HRO) of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Norwegian People Aid (NPA) and Public Aid Organization (PAO) to the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region institutions.

The 13-17 August training sessions, entitled “United Nations Conventional and Non-Conventional Mechanisms of protection–UPR as an example”, focus on the implementation of the national and regional UPR action plans pursuant to recommendations that Iraq endorsed in the second cycle of UPR in November 2014. Participants, including experts of relevant ministerial institutions, will explore best practices on following on the implementation of the UPR action plans at the federal and regional levels, preparation of national reports on the progress achieved, and engagement of stakeholders in the process, ahead of the third cycle of UPR for Iraq expected in 2019.



The 29 participants – 21 men and eight women - included 17 from the Iraqi Ministerial Committee, six from the Kurdistan Region’s High Committee to Follow-up and Respond to the International Reports, two from the Independent Board of Human Rights in Kurdistan Region and four representatives of non-governmental organizations from different parts of Iraq.

At the opening session, Mr. Hussein Al-Zuheri, Deputy Minister of Justice in the Federal Government of Iraq, stressed the importance of the training and the cooperation between the federal and regional entities working on the follow-up to the implementation of UPR recommendations. Mr. Dindar Zebari, Head of the High Committee to Follow-up and Respond to International Reports, stressed the importance of coordination with all relevant partners to achieve better results.



Mr. Zito Siany, of the UNAMI HRO, focused on the importance of strengthening the relationships among the United Nations, National Human Rights Institutions, the Government and Civil Society Organizations in engaging in the process of UPR, and outlined the types of technical support HRO has been providing to the relevant Iraqi institutions by organizing specialized training courses, facilitating discussions on best practices at the federal and regional levels.