UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD A number of these contexts have been characterized by civilian casualties, damage to civilian infrastructure and large-scale displacements. However, several States are increasingly engaged with the international human rights mechanisms and the Office. This notwithstanding, the death penalty continues to be used extensively in a number of countries and concerns persist in relation to discrimination and/or incitement of hatred directed against women and numerous groups, including migrants, persons with disabilities and ethnic and religious minorities. In the course of the year, OHCHR field presences supported governments, civil society organizations and other actors to prevent violations and strengthen the protection of human rights, including in situations of conflict and insecurity; strengthen the rule of law and accountability for human rights violations; enhance equality and counter discrimination; and enhance participation and protect civic space. The Office supported monitoring, public reporting and strategic advocacy. It also called for the protection of human rights across the region and an end to the escalation of violence, including through the preparation of reports and briefings to the Human Rights Council, the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Office enhanced its advocacy and engagement with Member States and within the United Nations through active participation in inter-agency processes, by providing numerous briefings and conducting consultations on a wide range of human rights issues affecting the region. In order to reinforce the need for the protection of human rights in the country, the Office supported the visit of the Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights to Yemen and other missions to further 304 UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 UN HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE FIELD dialogue with interlocutors, such as representatives of the Saudi-led coalition. Moreover, the Office supported the preparation of key public reports, including on the situation of migrants and conditions of detention in Libya, on mass graves in Iraq and numerous other situations. In the context of encouraging increased engagement, providing technical cooperation and supporting capacity-building activities for key partners, the Office organized several study visits that were attended by more than 50 government representatives, as well as civil society and national human rights institutions. The Office also undertook capacity-building missions and initiatives in Algeria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia and supported training sessions and workshops for the Yemeni National Commission of Inquiry, in line with Human Rights Council resolution 36/31. and advocacy activities. The efforts of the Office in this regard were recognized by civil society organizations, including the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty. The latter granted its 2018 Initiative Award to OHCHR for its “Faith for Rights” programme. The Beirut Declaration and its 18 commitments on “Faith for Rights” have been translated by NGOs or UN entities into eight different languages and have been referred to in numerous reports by the UN SecretaryGeneral, treaty bodies, special procedures and civil society. IRAQ: UNITED NATIONS ASSISTANCE MISSION FOR IRAQ (UNAMI) Population size1 Surface area1 Human Development Index2 NHRI (if applicable)3 39.34 million 435,000 km² 0.685 (rank: 120/188 in 2016) Status B, 2015 Type of engagement Peace Mission Year established 2004 Field office(s) Baghdad, Basra, Erbil, Kirkuk and Mosul (temporarily relocated to Dohuk/Erbil) UN partnership framework n/a Staff as of 31 December 2018 41 XB requirements 2018 US$618,900 Please refer to Data sources and notes on p.191. KEY PILLAR RESULTS: Numerous field presences worked to address challenges related to shrinking civic space in the region. The Office supported capacity-building for key actors in this regard by convening dedicated workshops and study visits for 24 representatives of civil society. It also sought to strengthen cooperation with NHRIs in the region, including newly established institutions in Lebanon and Kuwait. In addition, the Office organized dedicated study visits for groups of women human rights defenders and journalists. The Office implemented a programme, which involved awarding grants to 11 NGOs, based in seven countries in the region, to fund projects on the rights of women and gender equality, the rights of minorities, human rights defenders, the environment and the rights of persons with disabilities. Finally, the Office coordinated a project on the protection of religious minorities, which was enriched through several regional workshops, seminars, side events Accountability (A) A1 – Iraq has an independent national human rights institution that complies with the Paris Principles, fulfils its mandate under the Constitution of Iraq, and meets international standards. The institutional frameworks of Committees of the Council of Representatives ensure that human rights are respected and protected by the legislative process and when public policies are formulated. Government departments fully respect Iraq’s international obligations with respect to human rights and the rule of law. These standards are understood to be fundamental to public policies and programmes. The Human Rights Office (HRO) of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) contributed to increasing the conformity of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) with international Non-Discrimination (ND) ND1 – Iraq develops as a multi-ethnic and religiously inclusive State in which the country’s ethnic and religious minority communities are protected from violence and can fully participate on equal terms in political, social and economic life. The HRO contributed to improving the level of compliance of with international human rights norms with regards to the rights of minorities and persons of disabilities. Key OMP pillars in 2018 123 to training sessions that were organized during the reporting period. standards by supporting the Commission in its monitoring and reporting practices. In 2018, the Board of Commissioners of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) appeared to be more active than its predecessor, including by being more visible to the Iraqi people through its higher media profile. Between August and September, IHCHR engaged in monitoring and reporting on the consequences of the demonstrations that took place in ten governorates to demand employment opportunities, basic services and an end to corruption. The Office supported IHCHR in monitoring and reporting on the protracted demonstrations in the Basra Governorate, which saw an upsurge in protests following allegations of water contamination. IHCHR published ad hoc reports and conducted advocacy campaigns in relation to a range of human rights concerns across Iraq. The capacity and knowledge of its staff and of other Government ministries and agencies was enhanced due Following the military defeat of ISIL in December 2017, in 2018 UNAMI focused on the rights of various groups, including minorities and persons with disabilities. While the minority groups, including religious and ethnic minorities, as well as the LGBTI communities continued to be persecuted and unable to fully and equally participate in the political, social and economic life of Iraq, CSOs faced challenges in the collection of data, necessitating governmental policies and laws to combat discriminatory practices. Moreover, civil society partners working on the rights of persons with disabilities required strong support in monitoring, documenting and reporting on discriminatory practices calling upon responsible authorities to work towards effective implementation of the ICRPD. In 2018, UNAMI organized several strategic workshops to build the capacity of civil society, the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights and relevant government entities. These workshops were followed by a series of meetings with interlocutors in order to ascertain their understanding of international human rights norms and standards and their consequential monitoring, documentation and compliance. UN HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT 2018 305