General Debate Item 4: Human rights situations that require the Council’s attention

20 September 2017

Thank you, Mr President,

This is a joint statement by EAFORD and Geneva International Centre for Justice.

We wish to call attention to the dramatic conditions in the city of Mosul in Iraq. Since the beginning of the battle for the liberation of the city from ISIS civilians have not just experienced some violations of their human rights but almost the total destruction of their city. Besides the killing of more than 40’000 civilians, Mosul had witnessed the ruin of its cultural and historical heritage, and the total devastation of its infrastructures, such as roads, water and communication services. Civilians have also suffered the destruction of the health and education systems.  

So far, no improvement has been made in the basic services, such as water, sanitation, health and education. The situation needs an international effort to rebuild the city under the supervision of the United Nations. Furthermore, a high number of the internally displaced population is living under insecure, difficult, and severe conditions, and they need special assistance.

We would hope that this battle for liberation will also liberate civilians from all the human rights violations that they have been witnessing and from the humanitarian catastrophe that they are living everyday.

Thank you.