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In 2006-2007, the UNAMI Human Rights Office (UNAMI HRO) implemented the following activities envisaged under the Human Rights Project.
(1) Assistance to the key ministries
In order to strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Human Rights and the Ministry of Justice, UNAMI HRO organized staff training activities on the promotion and protection of human rights. It provided expert advice and support to both ministries to improve their managerial and operational capacities to carry out their mandates. It assisted the two ministries in setting up a human rights library and provided them with OHCHR publications and electronic material on human rights, translated into Arabic. Furthermore, the office offered specialized trainings and workshop modules to government representatives, members of parliament and civil society aimed at supporting the drafting, revision and implementation of Iraqi national laws in conformity with national and international human rights norms and standards. In this context, UNAMI HRO, together with OHCHR, provided technical advice to the concerned ministries for the ratification of human rights treaties, in particular regarding the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
(2) Assistance aimed at establishing a National Human Rights Institution
With support from OHCHR, UNAMI HRO assisted the Iraqi Government in establishing a consensus on technical aspects of a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) and supported drafting a law on its establishment in compliance with relevant international guidelines and principles, in particular, with the Paris Principles of 1993. During 2006, HRO organized a number of meetings with parliamentarians, government officials and members of civil society to discuss the strategy for the establishment of a national human rights commission. HRO worked closely with members of the Council of Representatives and the Ministry of Human Rights, assisting them in preparing a draft law on the establishment of an NHRI to ensure that the law adequately reflected international standards.
(3) Supporting the creation of transitional justice strategy
UNAMI HRO, in cooperation with OHCHR and the International Centre for Transitional Justice, organized consultations with key national and international partners in order to devise a coherent strategy for Transitional Justice in Iraq, taking into account that such a strategy had to be led and owned by the Iraqi people. In this regard, UNAMI HRO conducted workshops and training courses with national stakeholders, such as key representatives of the new Government, Council of Representatives and civil society. The office also shared with Iraqi partners the experiences and lessons learned from other countries in transition, identified options for establishing an accountability mechanism in Iraq and outlined a plan of action with the involvement of Iraqi partners. In addition, UNAMI HRO advised and supported a national initiative to establish a National Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Torture.
(4) Iraqi constitution and legislation
UNAMI HRO also provided necessary assistance in the area of human rights related legislation, with an objective of bringing the Iraqi legislation in compliance with the international human rights standards and generating ideas for enhancing the current framework on the protection, enforcement and promotion of human rights. The Office also cooperated with the UNAMI Office of Constitutional Support (OCS) in supporting the review process of the Iraqi Constitution, which was approved by referendum on 15 October, 2005. The Constitution was drafted in 2005 by members of the Iraqi Constitutional Committee. In order to ensure broad support for the Constitution, it was agreed that the first elected parliament would establish a Constitutional Review Committee to determine whether and how to amend the constitution. This body was set up in September 2006.
In 2006, the Chief of HRO attended a workshop 'United Nations Multiparty Dialogue on Human Rights: Issues for Consideration on the Iraqi Bill of Rights', which took place in Vienna. The workshop was organized in cooperation with UNDP-Iraq and the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and supported by HRO. With a view to achieving the best possible regime of human rights in the new Iraq, the dialogue aimed to generate ideas for enhancing the current framework so as to protect, enforce and promote human rights but also to encourage a human rights culture. The multiparty dialogue was attended by 33 Iraqis, including members of political parties representing the whole Iraqi political spectrum, representatives of key national institutions as well as representatives of civil society.
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