Advocacy / Iraq
Families of the disappeared, organisations in MENA sound the alarm over crackdown on families amid continued crimes
Ahead of the International Day for the Victims of Enforced Disappearance, MENA Rights Group joins families of the missing and partner organisations in a statement calling on governments across the MENA region to put an end to the use of enforced disappearance and to honour victims' and families’ demands for truth, justice, accountability and reparations.
CSOs express concern about the intensifying use of the death penalty in the Gulf
On June 18, 2026, MENA Rights Group, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights, and ALQST for Human Rights delivered a joint oral statement at the 62nd session of the Human Rights Council, during the interactive dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on summary, extrajudicial and arbitrary executions, highlighting the grave human rights violations and severe suffering that result from the continued and arbitrary use of the death penalty in the Gulf region, Iran, and Iraq.
Iraq reviewed by the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances
At its 30th session, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances reviewed Iraq’s implementation of the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance and issued its observations highlighting serious shortcomings.
Iraq's National Human Rights Institution downgraded over ineffectiveness concerns
MENA Rights Group welcomes the recommendations made by the Sub-Committee on Accreditation (SCA) of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) to downgrade the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) to “B” status following its special review during the SCA’s 46th session, held from October 20 to 31, 2025.
Iraq must translate human rights commitments made during Universal Periodic Review into effective change
Following its fourth Universal Periodic Review in January 2025, Iraq accepted approximately 70% of the received recommendations. However, genuine progress will depend on their effective implementation.
The Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq must immediately release journalist Sherwan Sherwani and end judicial harassment
MENA Rights Group joins NGOs in calling for the release of Iraqi Kurdish journalist Sherwani, who has been arbitrarily detained for five years.
UN Secretary-General’s 2025 report highlights reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA
MENA Rights Group provides a summary of the UNSG's main concerns over reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA region, particularly in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.
Iraq’s human rights record assessed during its fourth Universal Periodic Review
During its Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on January 27, 2025, Iraq received 263 recommendations from 93 States on various issues including its human rights framework, the right to freedom of expression, and the death penalty.
UN Secretary-General’s 2024 report highlights reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA
MENA Rights Group provides a summary of the UNSG's main concerns over reprisals against human rights defenders in the MENA region, particularly in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Yemen.