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Human Rights
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Q:
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What is the UK doing about human rights in Iraq?
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A:
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We attach great importance to placing human rights and the rule of law at the forefront of efforts to build representative, democratic institutions in Iraq. There are two strands to the UK Government's human rights policy in Iraq. The first is to support Iraqi efforts to investigate human rights violations under Saddam Hussein's regime and bring to justice those responsible. The second is to support Iraqi efforts to put in place the civil, legal and political structures necessary to ensure human rights are not violated in the future.
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Q:
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What funding has the UK provided for human rights work in Iraq?
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The British Government takes very seriously its international responsibility to help the people of Iraq build a strong and peaceful country in which their human rights are respected and the rule of law applies to all, regardless of rank or background. We are working with the government of Iraq, the Iraqi security forces and international partners to help them develop a pluralist political process, free from violence and with infrastructures that will strengthen human rights and rule of law. In the last 18 months the FCO has helped develop projects and programmes in Iraq valued at nearly £4 million in support of these objectives. In addition to this the UK has:
Established the framework of a Human Rights Training Institute within the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights, including provision of materials, training for trainers and mentoring.
Provided the Training Institute with training curricula, which it can use to train other ministries and the police on human rights issues.
Provided segregated facilities for women and juveniles at two prisons in southern Iraq and provided enough portable medical facilities for most prisons in the Basra area
Provided basic skills education package for juveniles in detention in the Basra area.
Hosted a visit to the UK by a diverse group of influential Iraqi women. The visit focused on women’s roles in post-conflict society, peace-building and governance issues.
Held a regional capacity-building conference for 30 NGOs in March 2006 which provided educational material and helped the NGOs set up a network.
Provided outreach and seed funding for 28 small Iraqi NGOs through a small grants scheme that enabled them to carry out community level projects and develop their own infrastructure. This project covered education, human rights awareness, gender and children’s issues.
Funded a study tour to the UK and training materials for a group of 10 Iraqi lawyers. This group will now train and mentor colleagues in Iraq, with the aim of raising awareness of human rights in law.
Helped establish a National Centre for Missing Persons and Exhumations and supported the Medico-Legal Institute in Baghdad by providing specialist advice and materials.
Helped fund the cost of sending international advisers to the Iraq High Court to provide advice on international law, including human rights, in the trial of Saddam Hussein and members of his former regime.
Helped organise courses in the UK for senior Iraqi police, prison and judicial officers under the EU JUSTLEX and rule of law programme. All courses have been underpinned by human rights values, and have included specific human rights elements.
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Q:
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What has happened to Saddam Hussein?
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A:
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On 5 November 2006 the Al-Dujail trial chamber issued its verdict and awarded Saddam Hussein the death penalty. This verdict and sentence were subsequently reviewed by the Cassation Panel, an appeal court of the Iraqi High Tribunal. The Cassation Panel issued its judgement on 26 December 2006, affirming the death sentence against Saddam and two of his co-defendants. Saddam was executed on Saturday 30 December 2006.
Saddam Hussein had access to lawyers throughout his detention, as do all other detainees who are tried by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
The Al-Dujail trial tried Saddam and his co-defendants for crimes against the inhabitants of the village of Al-Dujail, including mass torture, helicopter gun-ship attacks, and destruction of the village’s farmland. In addition to the Al-Dujail charge, the other charges against Saddam included:
The killing of religious figures in 1974
The gassing of Kurds in Halabja in 1988
The killing of the Kurdish Barzani clan in 1983
Killing members of political parties over the last 30 years
The 1986-1988 Anfal campaign of displacing Kurds
The suppression of the 1991 uprisings by Kurds and Shiites
The 1990 invasion of Kuwait
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Q:
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What is the UK's position on the Iraqi Government’s retention of the death penalty?
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The use of the death penalty is a matter for sovereign states. However, the UK is opposed to the death penalty in all circumstances. We have made, and will continue to make, strong representations to the Iraqi Government to abolish the death penalty.
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