Iraq: Security Council discusses key milestones and ongoing challenges

Mohammed al-Hassan, the new UN special representative for Iraq, said in his first address to the Security Council in the role on Friday: "As you have heard many times, the Iraq of today is not the same as the Iraq of 20 years ago or five years ago. "Iraq is more secure, stable and open today, despite the many obstacles facing the country." Mohammed al-Hassan is also the head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI). He expressed confidence that the country is capable of "overcoming crises and facing challenges towards building a more secure, bright and promising future." Nationwide census, some key resource investments Special Envoy Mohammed al-Hassan highlighted important milestones in recent times, starting with the successful conduct of the national census in November, the first comprehensive census of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region in the Northern Region since 1987. This is the first census to include. Preliminary estimates show that Iraq's population has almost doubled in the last 30 years, reaching 45 million. , and "decision-makers will now be able to make plans based on reliable facts and figures." Major Political Appointments Another important development was the election in October of a new Speaker of the Council of Representatives of the Iraqi Parliament, "which is set to remain vacant for a year and "In addition, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani has continued to invest in major infrastructure projects throughout the country, including building roads, bridges, schools, and transportation networks. Regional peace and integration Encouragement to Iraq Ambassador Mohammed al-Hassan said, "The Government of Iraq has shown determination as a strong voice for regional peace and stability, in a region 'in flames.'" The prime minister said "Iraq's sovereignty and has consistently called for an end to regional tensions, stressing the need to respect territorial integrity."Furthermore, the Government of Iraq, thinking beyond current conflicts, is taking advantage of regional partnerships to provide the country with access to transportation, energy and "Such initiatives highlight the importance of Iraq's efforts to promote regional integration and prosperity," he said. Progress in the Kurdistan Region It also drew attention to "positive progress" in the region, where parliamentary elections were held on 20 October "after two years of negotiations and delays", re-establishing the legitimacy of institutions there. The United Nations Mission in Iraq provided electoral assistance for the process, in which more than 2 million people participated. Voter turnout reached 72 percent, an increase of 12 percent compared to previous elections. In this election, women won 31 out of 100 parliamentary seats, which is more than the minimum quota of 30 percent. She said, "On one hand, talks are going on between political parties to form a new regional government, in such a situation It is the responsibility of political parties to provide women access to political positions and give them a place on the stage." Additionally, the Prime Minister's visit to the regional capital Erbil after the elections, "both sides It was an important step towards promoting joint dialogue between the two countries to address a number of important issues."Threats to Corruption and Women's RightsMohammed Al Hassan also noted, however, that these positive developments are being highlighted by continuing systemic corruption. The threat posed by corruption looms large even as the government continues to make efforts to combat corruption. He underlined the need for "comprehensive changes and reforms that promote accountability "I am confident that the Government is taking promising steps in this direction."Debate on Marriage LawHe said that personal status There has been extensive public debate about the proposed amendments to the law and significant international attention to this issue, which will have far-reaching impacts on women and girls. United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed recently observed that Provisions of the law include lowering the legal marriage age for girls from 18 to nine. UNAMI has consulted extensively with Iraqi stakeholders on the draft of such provisions. Displaced people 'deserve better conditions' The Iraqi envoy drew attention to other issues, saying that the influence of the terrorist group Daesh is still visible in the camps where thousands of displaced people live. Are. These are mainly members of the Yazidi minority community. These people have experienced such harsh living conditions before. He said, "This situation in Iraq is unacceptable. Iraq can do better. I am confident that Iraq will be able to provide better living conditions for those people." who were already suffering.” He urged Iraq to make concrete investments in creating conditions for Yazidis and others to return home. “And we must not forget those Iraqi civilians who are still in the al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria,” he said, drawing attention to the place where many prisoners were detained on charges of alleged links to Daesh. Thousands of people of various nationalities, including children, are being held. Although Iraq is one of the very few countries working to repatriate its citizens, there are still "hell-like conditions" More action is needed to accelerate the withdrawal. “We need new commitments from the Iraqi government and institutions to return Iraqi civilians from al-Hol and other camps in northeastern Syria – potentially by the end of 2025,” he said. Have been received...”He urged other countries to do the same.


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