UNAMI Chief in Iraq describes human rights in Iraq as “fragile.”

ARBIL / IraqiNews.com: The Chief of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) has described the human rights in Iraq as “fragile,” at a time when the country is facing great challenges.   In an address at the Conference for the Defenders of Human Rights, held in Arbil on Tuesday, Francesco Motta, said: “ The focus on the work of human rights defenders continues through all of 2011, and today we are here to demonstrate our commitment to the cause of human rights defenders and support your work.” “The human rights situation throughout Iraq remains fragile as the country slowly transitions from a conflict to post-conflict country that faces enormous development challenges that the Government and people of Iraq must address,” he stressed.   “Our final aim is to assist the Iraqi partners in developing an active Federation between national institutions, such as the MoJ, the MoHR, the CMC, the Iraqi Bar Association, and CSOs, in promoting a greater understanding and the increased capacity to react to human rights issues, including raising awareness of human rights abuses in Iraq,” Motta reaffirmed.   The 3-day Conference is attended by 80 civilian activists from different parts of Iraq , supported by the European Union, the UNESCO, UNAMI, the UN Human Rights Office and Iraq ’s Human Rights Organization, and is implemented by the Czech (People in Need) Organization and Haricar Organization for Human Development.   SKH (RT)   .   280