IRAQ PRESENTS REPORT TO COMMITTEE ON RIGHTS OF CHILD, DELEGATION SAYS IRAQI CHILDREN ARE SUFFERING FROM THE MILITARY AGGRESSION AND THE ECONOMIC EMBARGO

AFTERNOON
HR/CRC/98/43
23 September 1998




The Committee on Rights of the Child this afternoon started its consideration of the initial report of the Government of Iraq on its compliance with the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Basil Yousif, a member of Iraq’s Human Rights Committee and the head of the delegation, introduced the report, telling Committee members that children were among the most affected segments of the Iraqi population by the military aggression of the Western alliance against his country and by the economic embargo. He asked the Committee to send three of its members to Iraq to see the situation of the children.

Committee experts raised questions on such issue as methods of data collection; mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the Convention; the presence and function of non-governmental organizations (NGOs); reservations on article 14 paragraph 1 of the Convention; rights guaranteed for children of minorities; and discrimination against women.

The Iraqi delegation also included Saad Hussain, Counsellor at the Permanent Mission of Iraq to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Abdul Jabbar Abdulridha, Director-General for Protection of Health at the Ministry of Health, and Mayadeh Abdulla Yaseen, Second Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As one of the 191 States parties to the Convention, Iraq is obligated to submit periodic reports to the Committee on its compliance with the provisions of the treaty.

When the Committee reconvenes at 10 a.m. on Thursday, 24 September, it will continue its consideration of the Iraqi report.

Report of Iraq

The initial report of Iraq (document CRC/C/41/Add.3) reviews the country's efforts in implementing the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. It says that the economic embargo which was imposed on Iraq has seriously affected the welfare of children who constitute the most vulnerable section of the population. It is difficult if not impossible to speak of the rights of the child in Iraq without mentioning the tragic situation and its devastating effects on all the rights of the child.

The report says that despite its economic difficulties, Iraq has taken every possible measure, at all legislative, executive and judicial levels, to ensure the protection and care of children. It has also endeavoured to consolidate and strengthen family stability and to assist in the solution of family difficulties and disputes that might prevent children from enjoying the rights set forth in the Convention.

The report states that Iraq is an Islamic country and its Constitution as well as the legislation in force in its territory are largely based on the Islamic Shari'a which calls for the establishment of healthy family relations based on family unity. In addition, divorce or separation of the spouses is regarded as abhorrent unless it is essential in order to protect the interests of the child or either of the spouses, the report says.

Presentation of Iraq's Report

BASIL YOUSIF, Head of the delegation of Iraq, introducing his country's report, stated that the world was aware of the great sufferings of Iraqi people as a result of the eight-year-old economic embargo.

Children were the most affected by the military aggression of the Western alliance and the economic embargo, Mr. Yousif went on to state. As a consequence, children who needed greatest care and protection had become vulnerable and their right to sustained development had been hampered.

Mr. Yousif affirmed that Iraq acceded to the Convention on the Rights of the Child with the desire to cooperate with international bodies. Nevertheless, the military aggression and the economic embargo had created a situation of serious food shortages and lack of other resources which might have been used in the implementation of the provisions of the Convention.

Mr. Yousif said that the economic embargo also had serious consequences for other human rights of citizens. Despite all the difficulties, Iraq had attempted to comply with the Convention. However, when a child was deprived of basic nutritious food, medical care and other essential needs, it was difficult to fully comply with the provisions of the Convention.

Iraq had demonstrated its desire to cooperate with all international bodies and had always shown its readiness to implement international treaties, Mr. Yousif said. However, he added, the lack of resources had created a catastrophic situation hindering the country from fully discharging its international commitments.

The use of prohibited weapons by the armies of the United Kingdom and the United States against Iraq had affected the health of its population as well as the condition of its water and land, Mr. Yousif said. The British army had used bombs carrying enriched uranium, which had serious consequences on the health of children. Birth deformations and mongoloid twin deliveries were reported on many occasions. The acts of the Western alliance were considered to be a genocide which represented a crime under international law, he said.

In conclusion, he urged the Committee to send three of its members to Iraq to consider the situation of children there.

Discussion

Committee members raised questions on such issues as methods of data collection; mechanisms to monitor the implementation of the Convention; the presence and function of non-governmental organizations (NGO); reservations on article 14 paragraph 1 of the Convention; rights guaranteed for children of minorities; and discrimination against women.

In response to the questions raised by Committee experts, the members of the delegation said that the Government of Iraq had undertaken a series of measures for the protection and promotion of children's rights, thanks to the assistance rendered by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). Iraq had concluded several agreements with UNICEF to work together to promote the rights of the child. The Mother and Child Unit which was established in 1990 was operating in close collaboration with UNICEF.

Iraq also cooperated with many other international agencies and non-governmental organizations, the delegation said, adding that on the national level there were three NGOs working at the side of the Government.

The principle of non-discrimination was one of the principles of the Iraqi Constitution which stated that men and women were to be treated equally, the delegation said. Kurds were treated in the same manner as the rest of the population. However, the autonomy given to Kurds in 1990 had been disturbed by the 1991 intervention by the United States in the internal affairs of Iraq. Consequently, the central Government had withdrawn from the region because of the pressure exercised by United States.

With regards to the reservation on article 14, paragraph 1 of the Convention, which said that States parties should respect the right of the child to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, the delegation said that since the country was guided by Islamic principles and the Shari'a, the reservation was a matter of protecting the international sovereignty of the country. However, the Constitution had guaranteed the freedom of religion and belief and freedom of religious observance. The Islamic religion was taught as a subject in public primary and preparatory schools while the Christian religion was taught as a subject in public primary and preparatory schools in which Christians constituted 25 per cent of the total number of pupils. Iraq's reservations were in conformity with the reservations of the Islamic States parties to the Convention.

The delegation said that the Child Welfare Authority was the body responsible for child welfare, including the implementation of the Convention. The Mother and Child Unit was also responsible for preparing the national plan of action for children in cooperation with concerned ministries.