The US Invasion of Iraq 22 Years Later 

Calling for Accountability and Justice for Iraq

March 20, 2025

By Charlize Chen / GICJ

Introduction

On 20 March 2003, the United States and the United Kingdom launched an illegal war against the Republic of Iraq, resulting in a devastating occupation and the near destruction of the country. Twenty-two years have passed since the invasion—a period marked by unfulfilled promises, destruction, death, violations, and hardship.

In clear violation of Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, as well as multiple provisions of the 1949 Geneva Conventions and their 1977 Protocols, the subsequent occupation led to deliberate, excessive, and unnecessary devastation, inflicting lasting damage on the country and its people. To this day, the Iraqi people continue to fruitlessly wait for reparations, or even an official apology.

The 2003 invasion has had devastating and far-reaching consequences:

• The killing of over two million Iraqi citizens.
• The widespread use of arbitrary detentions, torture, and enforced disappearances by occupying forces.
• The imposition of a sectarian regime backed by tyrannical militias.
• The devastation of Iraq’s environment, particularly due to the frequent use of toxic and radioactive weaponry.
• Numerous health crises caused by the collapse of the healthcare system, including a sharp rise in cancer rates and birth defects.
• Devastating levels of internal and external displacement, making Iraq one of the three countries dealing with the greatest levels of migration. 

In addition to the widespread killing, displacement, and economic decline suffered by the Iraqi people, the invasion and occupation led to the near-total destruction of the infrastructure that once made Iraq a flourishing nation. Persistent bombings obliterated or permanently damaged thousands of private and public buildings, including homes, hospitals, schools, shops, and businesses, while also devastating critical infrastructure. These large-scale acts of destruction resulted in the rapid deterioration of the public sector, particularly in education and healthcare, further undermining the standard of living of millions of Iraqis.

As noted during the 48th Session of the Universal Periodic Review from 20-31 January 2025, Iraq has received hundreds of recommendations to improve its human rights situation, yet most have not been implemented. Even though several UN committees have issued comprehensive recommendations for the country to address systemic issues and enhance human rights protections, the Iraqi government has consistently failed to act on these recommendations. 

Geneva International Centre for Justice (GICJ) has for years documented the abuses committed during the occupation of Iraq, urging the international community to deliver justice to the Iraqi people. As we mark 22 years since this tragic chapter in Iraq’s history, it is crucial to recognise how the lives of its people have been—and continue to be—profoundly affected by its consequences.

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