Report – 26th Meeting of the 59th Session of the Human Rights Council
The 26th meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council, dedicated to the adoption of Iraq’s final UPR report, was held on 2 July 2025 in Geneva. The session allowed representatives from the Iraqi government, UN member states, and civil society to express their views on the recommendations made during the review.
H.E. Abdul-Karim Hashim Mostafa, Permanent Representative of Iraq, highlighted the adoption of the Yazidi Survivors Law, efforts toward gender equality, transitional justice, and child protection, as well as the government’s commitment to implementing accepted recommendations and cooperating with international mechanisms.
Delegations from several countries took the floor. The Philippines, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and Belgium commended measures taken to strengthen women’s rights, justice, and inclusion, while stressing the importance of effective implementation. The Russian Federation, Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Sudan, Vietnam, Yemen, Bahrain, Brunei, and Venezuela emphasized the fight against poverty, the right to development, institutional reforms, and territorial equality. Singapore, Albania, and Bolivia encouraged Iraq to continue its national efforts to stabilize governance and uphold fundamental rights.
On 1 July 2025, during the adoption of the final report, several non-governmental organizations delivered statements highlighting serious and ongoing human rights issues.
Humanists International condemned the lack of protection against marital rape in Iraq, the impunity of perpetrators of gender-based violence, and the maintenance of discriminatory laws such as Article 398 (exonerating rapists if they marry their victims) and Article 41 (granting husbands a legal right to “discipline” their wives). They also expressed concern about the persistence of child marriages, some involving girls as young as 12.
The Lutheran World Federation, while acknowledging efforts such as shelters, hotlines, and awareness campaigns, pointed to the gap between commitments and implementation. They called for a comprehensive law against domestic violence, criminalization of marital rape, and the lifting of reservations to CEDAW (Articles 9 and 16).
The Anglican Consultative Council supported recommendations to advance the rights of women and minorities. It also called for the end of religious affiliation being recorded in government databases, for freedom of religion to be ensured, and for increased transparency in the judicial system to combat systemic discrimination.
The International Council Supporting Fair Trial and Human Rights welcomed some legislative reforms but raised concerns about freedom of expression and enforced disappearances. They called for a voluntary moratorium on the death penalty, protection of journalists, and an independent national human rights commission.
Maat for Peace, Development and Human Rights welcomed the general amnesty law that led to the release of 19,000 detainees but criticized recent amendments to the personal status law that enable child marriage. They urged the adoption of a national strategy to combat violence against women.
COC Nederland raised alarm over the worsening situation for LGBTQ+ people in Iraq, following the passage of laws criminalizing same-sex relationships and non-conforming gender expression. Sentences of 3 to 5 years are now applied, in clear violation of Iraq’s international obligations.
The Gulf Centre for Human Rights condemned Iraq’s refusal to ratify key treaties (the Convention against Torture Optional Protocol, the Rome Statute, and the Convention on Migrant Workers). It denounced the abusive use of vague penal provisions to suppress freedom of expression and called for an end to impunity for violations linked to the 2019 protests.
Alliance Defending Freedom praised progress in the area of religious freedom but called for the repeal of blasphemy and anti-conversion laws, which particularly impact religious minorities like the Yazidis. They called for the elimination of legal discrimination and support for the return of displaced communities.
Meezaan Center for Human Rights noted that most UPR recommendations remain unimplemented. The organization condemned arbitrary detentions, mass executions, enforced disappearances (up to one million since 2003), and the lack of judicial reform. It called for urgent structural reforms.
Maloca Internationale, on behalf of the Zagros Human Rights Center and 24 other organizations, denounced the politicization of economic and social rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It highlighted the impact of the federal government’s unilateral suspension of the region’s constitutionally guaranteed budget share, which deprived over six million people of access to essential services. The continued disregard of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution was also condemned. The signatories called for the establishment of an international monitoring mechanism to ensure budgetary equity and protection of fundamental rights.
List of the 26 signatory organizations:
Maloca Internationale, Centre Zagros pour les Droits de l’Homme, Barzani Charity Foundation / BCF, International Yazidis Foundation for the Prevention of Genocide, Public Aid Organization, Society for Development and Community Empowerment (SDCE), Association Culturelle des Tamouls en France, Jeunesse Étudiante Tamoule, Association des Étudiants Tamouls de France, Actions Écologiques Françaises, Association pour le Droit de l’Homme et le Développement Durable (Colombes), Les Caribous Libérés, Le Pont, Tamil-Style, Association Thendral, Association Bharathi Centre Culturel Franco-Tamoul, ABC Tamil Oli, Association pour la Solidarité Internationale, Tourner la Page, ADEAGE, Association caritative étudiante pour la jeunesse, Association Droit et Talents de Femmes, Association Lutte contre la Violence faite aux Femmes, Association pour la Diffusion des Droits de l’Homme dans l’Université de Lyon, AJIS, Étudiants pour une Société Durable Paris.
Conclusion
In closing, H.E. Abdul-Karim Hashim Mostafa thanked the Member States and NGOs for their contributions, reaffirmed Iraq’s commitment to cooperating with international mechanisms and submitting regular reports, and emphasized the importance of UN agency support to ensure effective implementation.
Annex – Joint statement submitted to the Human Rights Council:
Human Rights Council – 59th session
Joint Oral Statement
Item 6: UPR Adoption – Iraq
Mr. President,
We acknowledge Iraq’s stated commitments during its Universal Periodic Review, including strategies for women and children and the adoption of the Yazidi Female Survivors Law. However, we regret that a critical issue is absent from the report: the continued politicization of economic and social rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.
For years, the repeated suspension of the Kurdistan Region’s constitutionally mandated share of the national budget by the federal government has severely impacted the rights of over six million residents. These actions undermine access to healthcare, education, social protection, and a decent standard of living—disproportionately affecting women and children. This is in clear violation of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, to which Iraq is a party.
Furthermore, the persistent failure to implement Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution—which mandates normalization, census, and referendum in the disputed areas—illustrates a broader pattern of selective constitutional implementation that marginalizes communities in the Kurdistan Region.
While the UPR report highlights areas of progress, it fails to address this ongoing socio-economic crisis caused by punitive political decisions. The weaponization of public sector salaries and delays in budget transfers have plunged thousands of families into poverty and insecurity.
We, the 26 signatory organizations, therefore call on the Council and Member States to send a strong message: fundamental rights and constitutional guarantees must not be manipulated for political ends. We urge the establishment of an international monitoring mechanism to ensure equitable enforcement of Iraq’s constitutional obligations and to protect vulnerable populations, particularly women and children.
We thank you.