Rachel Bernu and camp representative Hussein Karimi (right) in Baryka UNHCR Refugee Camp, Iraq, Jan 2007

The particular focuses were the treatment of minorities, freedom of expression and the awareness and understanding of human rights.  The mission met with a range of government, intergovernmental and NGO representatives.  Observations and recommendations will be laid out in full in a report in April.

Upon her return, mission member Rachel Bernu gave briefings to KHRP, the Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales, and to UK government officials. Firstly, the mission observed that the development of a strategic human rights framework is urgently needed in the region.  Whilst both the Kurdish Regional Government and civil society actors appear to welcome the introduction of such a framework, little has been done to support its systematic introduction.  The mission believes that such development is being undermined by a pervading sense of impermanence which is contributing to the lack of long term strategies for institutional and infrastructural development in the region and the emphasis on border security.  It is deeply concerned about the lack of strategic international support currently being given to create good governance structures. Despite this, the mission observed public optimism about the potential future of the region.  

Secondly, the mission is concerned that the efforts to prevent terror from spilling into the three Governorates’ borders has lead to strong border security, but little security for  those accused of crimes.  The mission observed that the standards of pre-trial detention are extremely poor, with no effective investigations system in place to minimise detention time. The conditions in the region’s gaols are also extremely poor, particularly in men’s prisons, and child imprisonment is commonplace. It is also well known in the region, though not officially acknowledged, that the main political parties (PUK and KDP) also run their own prisons and detention centres. Furthermore the three regional prisons have not been opened for inspection, except to the international Red Cross, and there are widespread allegations of torture and ill-treatment, as well as arbitrary arrest. 

The mission further observed that there continues to be confusion between federal, regional and old Baathist law, along with inappropriate application of Shar’ia law. Marginalisation of women and violence against them was said to be on the increase, as was the influence of radical Islamic elements in certain cities. It was observed that these are concerns for the Regional Government, but due to external pressures and the resulting lack of a systematic human rights approach, all too often questions of internal day to day security for women and children in particular, but for society as a whole as well, falls in the hands of tribal, clan and religious leaders. 

The most positive observation of the mission was the degree to which the right to freedom of expression has been realised. It appeared that most people interviewed felt comfortable expressing their concerns.  However, the mission also noted that in general, public understanding of rights is very lacking, with many seeing rights simply in terms of what the government owes them. Those charged with responsibility for human rights are more often than not political appointees, and there is no consistent domestic training on     human rights in the region. It is clear, therefore, that much work needs to be done in Iraq’s Kurdish regions to improve the human rights situation, and international NGOs have a part to play in this. Indeed, during its time in  Kurdistan the mission met with numerous requests for human rights training from NGOs, civil society groups and KRG officials.