In the first meeting of the Partnership with Iraq, Forum for Human Rights Forum - held on 16 December 2008 at the FCO, Iraq’s Minister for Women and the Iraqi Kurdish Region’s Minister for Human Rights discussed the current level of human rights in Iraq.

The event was chaired by the Special Envoy to the Prime Minister on human rights in Iraq, the Rt Hon Ann Clwyd MP.

Participants from a range of NGOs, civil society groups, international organisations, and representatives of the UK, Iraqi and other foreign governments looked at human rights issues facing Iraq now and of concern for the future. Topics included the prison conditions, minority rights, freedom of speech, violence against women and missing persons.

Making progress on human rights in Iraq

The Iraqi Kurdish Region’s Minister for Human Rights, Yousif Mohammad Aziz and Iraq’s Deputy Human Rights Minister Hussein Jasim Nasser Al-Zuhairi outlined progress on human rights issues in Iraq.

Like Deputy Minister Al-Zuhairi, FCO Minister Bill Rammell in his closing address, observed that although much had been achieved in Iraq, much remains to be done.

Mr Rammell said that responsibility for human rights rightly lies in the hands of Iraq's people and its democratically elected government. The UK’s role now is to provide on advice, assistance and help to the Iraqi government and its people continue to improve human rights in Iraq.

Minister for Women Mrs Nawal al-Samaraie remarked, the challenge going forward is not only proposing solutions, but implementing them also.

The Forum agreed to meet again in 2009 to look at ways to take forward the issues raised.

Find out more about the Forum for Human Rights Support from FCO in Action on the FCO website.