Kuwait praises Iraq efforts to eradicate past ills
2/16/2010
GENEVA, Feb 16 (KUNA) -- The State of Kuwait praised Tuesday Iraq for its efforts in eradicating the ills of the past and the gross human rights violations practiced by the former Iraqi regime.
Addressing the Working Group on the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Iraq at the human rights council, Kuwait First Secretary Talal Almutairi noted that the current efforts of Iraq in consolidating human rights and strengthening them aim at eradicating the ills of the past.
Almutairi stressed that the endorsement of the 2005 Iraqi constitution has opened a new glowing chapter in the history of Iraq and that the establishment of a ministry for human rights reflects the real desire in strengthening human rights and spreading the culture of human rights towards achieving progress and welfare for all.
He added that both Iraq and Kuwait had suffered from a long era of human rights abuses by the former Iraqi regime, and Iraq suffered under a dictatorship for many years which conducted torture, arbitrary detention and executions without trials.
Kuwait First Secretary Talal Almutairi praised Iraq's commitment to universal standards of human rights in its judicial system and its inclusion of human rights in the educational material which contributes to the rule of law.
He described the challenges facing Iraq in the human rights field especially those related to terrorism which led to so many victims mainly women and children, and estimated in a loss of life of some 85,000 people between 2004 and 2008. He recommended that Iraq give ample importance to its commitments to international law and humanitarian law in its quest to combat terrorism so that stability and peace can return to the country and so that Iraqis in the Diaspora can return and play an effective role in the rebuilding of their country.
Iraqi minister for human rights Wegdan Salem presented today her country's report to the UPR working group of the human rights council and stressed that the transition to democracy entails a foundation of respect for human rights today and in the future.
Kar.asfq.com
