In an interview with UN NewsMr. Mohamed Al Hassan, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) and MANUI The leader said the end of the mission reflects how far Iraq has come since its founding in 2003, as the country emerged from decades of dictatorship, regional wars and terror brought on by ISIL – more widely known in the Middle East as Daesh.
“When UNAMI started, Iraq was a very different place than it is today,” he said. UN News. Just a few days after the mission began, in August 2003, The UN under attack at its headquarters in Baghdad, leaving 22 dead and more than 100 injured among its employees.
A truck bomb destroyed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003.
Today, a new era is dawning: “Thanks to the sacrifices of Iraqis above all, and with international support, particularly that of the United Nations, Iraq believes that it is ready to move on to another phase, consolidating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. I wholeheartedly believe that Iraq is ready for this.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Baghdad to join Iraqis and the diplomatic community in marking the closure of the mission – an event he called a clear signal that it is “mission accomplished.”
Democratic progress
Mr Al Hassan said recent political developments in Iraq underline how dramatically the country has stabilized.
The parliamentary elections held in November, supported by UNAMI, were widely considered among the most credible to date. With a turnout of 56 percent, they also demonstrated renewed public engagement.
“These were the most fair, free and peaceful elections,” he said. “When you see such a fair and democratic election, you know it’s a belief in a new Iraq.”
A voter at a polling station in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, on election day. (deposit)
Over the years, UNAMI has provided essential support in a wide range of areas: advising the government on political stabilization, promoting an inclusive national dialogue, and supporting community-level reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.
He also played a central role in electoral assistance, helping Iraq organize several rounds of local and national elections.
Security turnaround
Among UNAMI’s most important legacies, Mr. Al Hassan said, is the dramatic improvement in security. He noted that Iraq “would have had no way of defeating Daesh without the help of the United Nations and the international community,” but stressed that it was ultimately the courage and resilience of Iraqis that reversed the extremist group’s advances.
The country is still feeling the long-term effects of the conflict. Around a million Iraqis remain internally displaced, including more than 100,000 Yazidis still living in camps after unimaginable suffering at the hands of ISIS.
At the Rehabilitation Center in Jeddah, Iraq, the UN Secretary-General met with returnees from Al-Hol camp in northeast Syria, where many Iraqis, Syrians and third-country nationals – mainly women and children – remain stranded. (2023)
Many still cannot return home, especially to the Yazidi heartland of Sinjar, due to destroyed infrastructure and unresolved security concerns.
“I hope they will have the time, resources and support to return to the homes from which they were taken,” he said. “It’s about time.”
A gender perspective
Promoting women’s rights is an integral part of UNAMI’s mandate, and Mr. Al Hassan said Iraq must continue this work long after the Mission leaves.
“Yes, Iraq today is much better than before when it comes to women’s rights,” he said. “But violence against women has unfortunately increased.”
He stressed that sustainable progress must come from within. “We want Iraqis to sponsor and defend women’s rights – through Iraqi law, Iraqi protection and Iraqi legislation,” he said. “At the end of the day, it is about the protection of their own people,” Mr Al Hassan added.
One of the main pillars of UNAMI’s mandate has been the promotion of human rights, including support for judicial and legal reforms, the protection of vulnerable communities and the promotion of the rights of women and minorities.
These responsibilities shaped the work of the Mission until its planned closure in December 2025.
As Iraq prepares to take its seat at the UN Human Rights Councilhe said, the country “must act as such”, guaranteeing full protection to women, young people and minorities and safeguarding freedom of expression.
UN presence remains in Iraq
Even though the political mission will end, Mr. Al Hassan stressed that the broader footprint of the UN will remain unchanged.
“People confuse UNAMI and the United Nations,” he said. “All specialized agencies – UNICEF, WHO, IOM, UNDPand many others – will remain in Iraq. Even the World Bank and IMF open new offices.
With large oil reserves and a large GDP, Iraq is not looking for aid, he stressed. “Iraq does not need charity; it needs the support and friendship of the international community.”
Humanitarian partners distribute emergency aid in the village of Ibrahim Khalil in Iraq.
“Success story” in a troubled region
Calling Iraq a “success story” and a “unique country”, Al Hassan urged the international community to give Iraq the space and support it needs to succeed.
“My message to the international community and neighboring countries is to give Iraq a chance to prove that it is worthy of the freedom for which Iraqis have paid a very heavy price. »
The departure of UNAMI does not mark the end of the Iraq-UN partnership.
“I have no doubt that the Iraqis have turned the page and unveiled a magnificent new page that will put their country in a better position than before,” Mr. Al Hassan said.
Originally published at Almouwatin.com
