On January 27, 2025, the fourth session of Iraq’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) was held at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, where the state of human rights in Iraq was assessed based on reports submitted by the Iraqi government, civil society organizations, and UN bodies. This review took place at a time when Iraq is facing significant challenges related to civil liberties, freedom of expression, the protection of human rights defenders, and transitional justice.
This report will examine certain aspects of the Iraqi government’s submission, compare it with reports from civil society organizations and UN missions, and analyze the situation of human rights defenders in Iraq. Additionally, it will highlight key observations made since the third UPR cycle, which focused largely on the need to protect human rights defenders by ensuring a safe environment for them, preventing harassment and threats, and amending laws that restrict the work and independence of civil society organizations.

Regarding the cessation of repression against protesters, the recommendations emphasized the need to guarantee the right to peaceful protest, halt the excessive use of force against demonstrators, and conduct transparent and independent investigations into cases of killings and enforced disappearances. These investigations should ensure accountability for those responsible for human rights violations, whether from security forces or armed groups, and establish an independent international investigative mechanism to monitor crimes committed against protesters and activists.
This report will focus on key aspects of the UPR review that are relevant to the work of the campaign.

You can read and download the report here: