2 December 2025
SRSG Al Hassan – I wish to thank you for your briefing, as well as for your continued engagement and efforts throughout your tenure. UNAMI has played a vital role in promoting human rights, facilitating inclusive political dialogue, and strengthening the rule of law in Iraq.
I also welcome the participation of Iraq and Kuwait to the meeting.
I wish to begin by congratulating Iraq on the successful conduct of the elections to the Council of Representatives. The calm and orderly voting process, accompanied by a significant rise in voters’ turnout is a strong indicator of the importance that these elections hold for the Iraqi society as well as for democracy in Iraq more broadly.
They represent an excellent opportunity to foster greater inclusion and we are encouraged by the fact that more than a quarter of registered candidates were women.
Slovenia thanks UNAMI for its engagement and technical assistance throughout the process.
We now underline the importance of a timely and peaceful formation of the new government.
We encourage the future Iraqi Government to maintain a commitment to reforms that include protection and promotion of human rights and help build resilient, democratic and accountable institutions.
Displacement should not become a protracted feature of Iraq’s social and political landscape; it is too heavy a burden for individuals, families and the state. Slovenia welcomes the efforts of the Iraqi Government to find durable solutions for internally displaced persons, and we call for the continuation and strengthening of these efforts.
Iraq should continue on its path to protect and promote human rights, in particular the rights of women and girls. In this regard, we urge Iraq to criminalize gender-based violence and enact the Anti-Domestic Violence Law. In the context of the future membership of both countries in the UN Human Rights Council, we are looking forward to cooperate with Iraq in this important endeavor.
We also encourage Iraq to address other human rights challenges, including restrictions on civic space and attacks on journalists and human rights defenders. More broadly, perpetrators of human rights violations must be held accountable – this includes responsibility for the crimes committed by Dae’sh. The survivors and victims of its crimes deserve justice.
Slovenia also reiterates that uncovering the fate of missing persons must be resolved. It is vital for the healing of entire societies, both at home and abroad. In this regard, we underline the importance of the resolution 2792 and call for continued cooperation between Iraq and Kuwait. We welcome the progress achieved and encourage maximum efforts to solve all the outstanding issues.
Democratic dialogue, good neighborly relations and respect for international law remain vital for fostering regional stability. We commend Iraq for its constructive role in the region and encourage it to continue on that path with its immediate neighbors and regional partners. Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected by everyone.
To conclude,
As UNAMI’s mandate draws to a close, it is encouraging to see the results of more than two decades of its work. UNAMI is a success story – also due to the fact that it followed the tested path of phasing out. Other UN missions can draw important lessons from UNAMI’s example.
Colleagues,
UNAMI helped extensively in laying the foundations for a lasting peace in Iraq. As it closes down, the international community will continue to look at developments in Iraq and support it on its path towards a stable, prosperous and resilient future.