22nd Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council - 4 March 2013
Item 2: General Discussion on the Thematic Reports of the Secretary-General and the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Full text of the statement:

Considering that Iraq has been struggling with the impact of war and occupation since the US-led invasion in 2003, we hoped that the High Commissioner would have further focused on the Human Rights violations in Iraq. The ten years of occupation has caused immense destruction in Iraq, the US occupation has led to the collapse of public services, violations of human rights and destroyed heritage. Coalition of Military Operations including massive attacks on cities like Fallujah and the counter-insurgent policy led to a substantially increased mortality and massive displacement. These attacks have led to high mortality rate, displacement of people, unemployment, a weakened education system and poverty. Although it is in the mandate of the UN, it must be noted that as of yet, official bodies have failed to investigate grave human rights violations following the invasion of 2003. The NGOs signatories to this statement request the High Commissioner to focus on the situation in Iraq in her coming reports.

We have a duty to put an end to all remaining aspects of the occupation in Iraq, we have a duty to protect internally and externally displaced persons, we have a duty to restore the health status in Iraq and to restore human rights in Iraq.

We have a duty to locate the one million people who have been declared missing, we must provide the people of Iraq with compensation to rebuild their infrastructures, schools, institutions and private property, as any country associated with war and occupation is eligible for. We must protect Iraqi professionals, teacher and jurists.