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The overall goal of the 2006-2007 Human Rights Project is to strengthen Iraq 's national human rights protection system. The project is aimed at building the human rights capacities of two key ministries, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Human Rights as well as the Council of Representatives. Cooperation projects include supporting the establishment of a National Human Rights Institution as well as the development of a strategy for transitional justice and providing support to civil society, active in the area of human rights.
In 2006-2007, UNAMI HRO will implement the following activities envisaged under the Human Rights Project.
(1) Assistance to the key ministries
In order to strengthen the capacities of the Ministries of Human Rights and Justice, UNAMI HRO organizes staff training programmes on the promotion and protection of human rights. It provides expert advice and support to both ministries to improve their managerial and operational capacities to carry out their mandates. It assists the two ministries in setting up a human rights library and will provide them with OHCHR publications and electronic material on human rights, translated into Arabic. Furthermore, the office will offer 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, provides 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) Establishment of the National Human Rights Institution
With support from OHCHR, UNAMI HRO is assisting the Iraqi Government in establishing a National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) in compliance with the international guidelines and principles, in particular the Paris Principles of 1993 . It is hoped that a national institution would contribute to building a culture of human rights and offer ways and means to redress human rights violations. During 2006, HRO has 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 has been working closely with the members of the Council of Representatives and the Ministry of Human Rights, assisting them in preparing a draft law on the establishment of a NHRI, which reflects international standards and which is currently being reviewed by the Human Rights Committee of the Council of Representatives. The draft law has not been passed in parliament. UNAMI HRO, together with OHCHR, will continue to support this process.
(3) Supporting the creation of transitional justice strategy
UNAMI HRO, in cooperation with OHCHR and the International Centre for Transitional Justice, is organising consultations with key national and international partners in order to devise a coherent strategy for transitional justice in Iraq . The strategy will have to be led and owned by the Iraqi people, in particular through the involvement of the future NHRI. In this framework, UNAMI HRO conducts workshops and trainings with national stakeholders, such as key representatives of the new Government, Council of Representatives and civil society. The office also offers expert advice, which takes into account the experience of other countries in transition. In July, HRO organized a preparatory workshop in the Green Zone in Baghdad with the participation of key representatives of the new Government, Council of Representatives and civil society. The workshop reviewed lessons learned and best practices from other countries, identified options for an accountability mechanism in Iraq and outlined a work plan for action with the involvement of Iraqis. The establishment of a National Centre for Missing and Disappeared Persons in Iraq could support efforts for national reconciliation. In 2005, the Government of Iraq requested UNAMI HRO and the Ministry of Human Rights to undertake measures to establish the National Centre for Missing and Disappeared Persons in Iraq . UNAMI HRO cooperates with the Ministry of Human Rights on issues relating to the setting up and running of the Centre for the Missing and the Disappeared. Families of missing and disappeared persons and Families' Associations will play a decisive role in the transition process leading to the formal establishment of the National Centre as well as in the future work of the centre. In addition, UNAMI HRO assists the Government in the establishment of a National Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Victims of Torture.
(4) Iraqi constitution and legislation
UNAMI HRO will continue to assist in the area of human rights related legislation. The objective is to ensure that Iraqi legislation is consistent with international human rights standards and to generate ideas for enhancing the current framework so as to protect, enforce and promote human rights as well as to encourage a human rights culture. The office also cooperates with the UNAMI Office of Constitutional Support Unit (OCS) in supporting the review process of the new 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 facilitate a broad support, it was agreed that the first parliament to be elected would institute a Constitutional Review Committee to determine whether and how to amend the constitution. This body has been 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 helping achieve 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. In 2007, OHCHR and UNAMI HRO will continue to support this process.
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