"Increasingly Hostile Environment" for Iraqi HRDs and Journalists

By John Lee.

Front Line Defenders, an international NGO based in Ireland with special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC), has prepared a report on human rights in Iraq.

The report is prepared for the 46th session of the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), overseen by the UN Human Rights Council.

The submission has been prepared by Front Line Defenders based on research carried out by this organisation and information received from independent human rights defenders in Iraq from November 2019 to June 2024.

This submission examines Iraq's compliance with its international human right obligations to create and maintain a safe and enabling environment for defenders, in line with the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders (HRDs). It draws attention to the difficult situation of HRDs in Iraq since the previous UPR session in November 2019.

According to a statement from FLD, Iraqi HRDs and journalists work in "an increasingly hostile environment."

Reecommendations:

The report says the government of Iraq should prioritise the protection of HRDs by :

1. Ensuring all perpetrators of violence against HRDs are held accountable, and ensure the relevant judicial mechanisms remain impartial and uphold the rule of law;
2. Cease the criminalization of HRDs, including HRD journalists, for their peaceful campaigns for justice and reform and ensure the right to peacefully assemble and protest;
3. Strengthen the legal framework by improving draft national legislation to ensure greater protection for HRDs, including HRD journalists, including by amending laws such as the draft
   laws on Cybercrimes, freedom of Expression, Association and Peaceful Assembly and Access of Information;
4. Ensure that national legislation is in line with international human rights standards and obligations, and amend laws to bring them into compliance as necessary;
5. Strengthen cooperation between civil society and the government to enhance protection and ensure a safe and enabling environment for HRDs;
6. Cease judicial harassment of HRDs, including HRD journalists;
7. Guarantee freedom of expression and assembly, and call on the authorities to end repressive practices against demonstrators, HRDs, including HRD journalists, and to guarantee their right
   to peaceful demonstration;
8. Adopt and implement policies and laws that protect WHRDs from all forms of violence and discrimination;
9. Reverse the media ban on the terms "homosexuality" and "gender" with a view to enabling HRDs working for gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights to continue their work without stigma;
10. Repeal the "Anti-Prostitution and Homosexuality Law", with a view to enabling HRDs working for gender equality and LGBTQI+ rights to continue their work safely

Click here to download the full report.

(Source: Front Line Defenders)