TNAG-2710-FCO40-3916-House-of-Commons-Select-Committee-on-Foreign-Affairs-and-Par-1993 — Page 140

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN IRAQ

Model

We co-sponsored the resolution on Iraq which was adopted by an

overwhelming majority at the UN Human Rights Commission on

10 March. The resolution strongly condemned Iraq's massive

violations of human rights.

Background

Iraq has a long record of denying basic human rights to its people. The Iraqi regime's appalling brutality and disregard for the welfare of its people led the UN Security Council to adopt Resolution 688 in 1991. This demanded an immediate end to repression in Iraq.

We are concerned at Iraq's failure to comply with UNSCR 688 and take every opportunity to call on them to do so. There can be no question of lifting sanctions against Iraq until they have fulfilled all of their obligations under the terms of UN resolutions.

We have consistently called on Iraq to allow human rights monitors into the whole of the country but especially the south to report on the situation there in accordance with the request of the UN's Special Rapporteur on Iraq but to date Iraq has failed to comply with this request. We have also demanded an end to the internal economic blockade of northern Iraq.

In support of the aims of UNSCR 688 and as a result of the grave humanitarian situation in northern and southern Iraq, we along with the French and the Americans, patrol air-exclusion zones north of the 36th parallel and south of the 32nd parallel. These allow us to monitor the situation on the ground and provide some protection to the civilian population of these areas.