Agenda Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention
General Debate
Statement by: International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD) and Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ)
16 September 2019
Thank you, Madam Vice President,
The Iraqi people have been waiting since 2003 for steps to be taken towards truth, justice and reparation. Ending impunity and providing measures of satisfaction are the only means to prevent future atrocities and create sustainable peace.
The crimes committed during the invasion and occupation included all forms of torture, extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, forcible recruitment of children, rape and other sexual violence, and destroying of homes and facilities.
These crimes led to a large number of victims suffering terrible health issues and needing support, as well as millions of internally displaced persons and persons fleeing the country. These violations are condemned under international human rights law and humanitarian law.
Accountability is essential in Iraq for all acts of the past decades and victims must obtain reparations for their losses. With this aim, EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice believe it is necessary to create an International Special Tribunal to prosecute all those involved in the invasion and occupation, and all those who committed atrocities in the past 16 years.
We also strongly recommend:
- That Iraq ratifies the Rome Statute of the ICC,
- That this Council creates a Special Rapporteur for Iraq to investigate all human rights violations since 2003, and
- That the Security Council sets up a Compensation Commission for Iraq.
I thank you.
Justice, Human rights, Geneva, geneva4justice, GICJ, Geneva International Centre For Justice
