UN Security Council Briefing: Iraq's Election Preparations, Displacement, and Kuwait Relations

Election Preparations and UNAMI Support

• 🗳️ Iraq is preparing for national parliamentary elections on November 11th, with voter registration nearing completion and significant biometric registration achieved.
• 💡 UNAMI is committed to providing professional technical support for a free, fair, and transparent election, encouraging participation from women, youth, and minorities.
• 🤝 The formation of a competent government in the Kurdistan region is still pending, emphasizing the need for compromise and shared objectives.

Internally Displaced Persons and Reintegration

• 🏠 Over 800 Iraqis returned from Al-Hol camp, highlighting the government's commitment to repatriation, but requiring adequate resources for dignified reintegration.
• ⚠️ Hundreds of thousands of individuals remain displaced, including 100,000 Yazidis from Sinjar, living in precarious conditions.
• 🌱 The government's recognition of Yazidi land rights and compensation offers are milestones, but sustainable return requires political, administrative, and security measures, alongside investment in job creation and local services.

Human Rights and International Commitments

• ⚖️ Iraq is considering 263 recommendations from the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review and is progressing on a draft law for minority rights and a strategy to counter hate speech.
• 🤝 UNAMI is ready to support these human rights initiatives and explore continued support options after its departure.

Outstanding Issues with Kuwait

• 🔍 Progress has been made in identifying burial sites for missing Kuwaiti nationals through increased field missions and advanced technologies, but efforts need to be redoubled to find the remains of 300 missing persons.
• 🏛️ The reactivation of the Iraq-Kuwait joint committee on missing property and the resumption of meetings on maritime border delimitation are welcome developments.
• 🕊️ Continued efforts to rebuild trust and confidence between Iraq and Kuwait are essential for a stable and cooperative future.

UNAMI Transition and Future Outlook

• 🗓️ With UNAMI's mandate concluding on December 31, 2025, the mission is pursuing a structured transition in cooperation with the Iraqi government.
• 📉 UNAMI is gradually reducing staffing levels and closing offices due to serious financial constraints impacting the United Nations.
• ✨ The resilience of the Iraqi people and their leaders is recognized, with confidence that they can achieve further stability, prosperity, and human rights.