Welcomes report and visit to Iraq of the Special Rapporteur of the Commission on Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Iraq; notes that Iraq has responded in writing to some requests and has accepted a second visit by the Special Rapporteur; expresses grave concerns that there has been no improvement in the situation of human rights in the country; strongly condemns grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by Iraq; calls upon the Government of Iraq: (a) to abide by its freely undertaken obligations under international human rights instruments, (b) to end all summary and arbitrary executions, (c) to establish a moratorium on executions, (d) to bring the actions of its military and security forces into conformity with the standards of international law, (e) to establish the independence of the judiciary, (f) to abolish the functioning of the temporary special courts, (g) to abrogate all decrees that prescribe cruel and inhuman punishment or treatment, (h) to abrogate all laws and procedures that penalize free expression, (i) to cooperate fully with the relevant mechanisms of the Commission on Human Rights, (j) to implement the recommendations of the Special Rapporteur, (k) to ensure the free exercise of political opposition, (l) to respect the rights of all ethnic and religious groups, (m) to cooperate fully with the Tripartite Commission to establish the whereabouts and resolve the fate of the remaining several hundred missing persons, (n) to cooperate with international aid agencies and non-governmental organizations to provide humanitarian assistance in the northern and southern areas of the country, (o) to cooperate in the identification of the minefields, requests the Secretary-General to continue to give all necessary assistance to the Special Rapporteur.

Adopted 97-3-77, 77th plenary meeting

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