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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
IRAQ: Human Rights report is a wake up call, says HRW
ANKARA, 24 September 2003 (IRIN) - A new survey on human rights in Iraq, published by Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) has been described by another watchdog group as a "wake-up call" for the international community.
One of the main findings of the report was that 98 percent of respondents from 2,000 households in southern Iraq said those responsible for crimes against humanity and war crimes should be punished, with most of them willing to be identified if a legal case was to be brought against the perpetrators.
"I suppose what is most shocking - though it really should come as no surprise - is the extent to which the respondents indicated their desire for revenge if the occupying powers do not establish soon some serious mechanism for accountability," acting director for Middle East and North Africa Division for Human Rights Watch (HRW), Joe Stork, told IRIN from Washington DC on Tuesday.
According to the report the interviewees had varying views about whether to follow secular or religious forms of justice. In addition, 15 percent of the respondents supported executions, torture, hanging and revenge killing as an appropriate mode of justice.
The survey covered a total of 16,520 people and was conducted over a two-month period in June and July. It revealed that people living in southern Iraq experienced widespread human rights abuses under Saddam Hussein’s Baath regime between 1991 and April 2003. "They strongly support the protection of human rights and overwhelmingly support a process of justice to hold the perpetrators accountable," PHR's John Heffernan, told IRIN from Boston in the US.
PHR believes that the most credible and legitimate process for justice for those responsible for the most heinous crimes should involve a tribunal composed of both Iraqi and international jurists experienced in war crimes trials. "The United Nations is in the best position to initiate and support such a process, as it has in relation to other countries," Heffernan said.
Among the 2,000 households surveyed, more than 1,000 incidents of specific forms of human rights abuses were reported. They included torture, killings, separation and disappearance, beatings, gunshot wounds, kidnappings, being held hostage, forced amputation, landmine injuries and sexual assault of women. All but 77 of the alleged abuses were attributed to Saddam’s Hussein’s forces or local police. More than half of the abuses occurred during the Shi’ite uprising against the Baath regime between 1991-1993. Another 30 percent occurred between 2000 and 2003 with smaller percentages reported between 1994-1999.
“Our research shows the extent to which the Shi’ite population has been traumatized,” said Dr Lynn Amowitz, PHR’s Senior Medical Researcher. “Widespread abuses became an integral component of Baath party rule, breeding a climate of mistrust. The number of Iraqis who are traumatized and remain isolated will not be able to participate in the reconstruction process unless their mental health is addressed.”
"Not surprisingly, we find this report to be very useful in raising and emphasising issues that we regard as critical, particularly regarding justice and accountability," Stork added.
A young Iraqi man interviewed gave the following description of the horrors he faced: "My health is very affected by my experience. I have become so thin and I am now psychologically tortured by the memories. My mind is tired and I am tired all of the time. I want to go abroad where it is calm and I can live quietly. I have tried to kill myself and still feel that I could. One time I touched electricity to kill myself. When I heard my mother crying I stopped.
"I am desperate. I cannot work, I cannot think and I am confused. My mother took me to a psychiatrist, but it did not help. I live in fear every day that they will come back for me. I hear them. I cannot believe that I am really free. I have psychological enemies that I cannot describe or explain. They follow me. I have never married and cannot marry. I should not expose another person to my terrors and I cannot afford a wife and family."
Of the 1,000 abuses reported, 20 were reported to have been perpetrated in 2003 by Coalition Forces against women, children and men of non-combat age: 11 of the victims were killed and nine sustained gunshot wounds. Fifteen of these incidents were witnessed by study participants.
However, PHR said that it was not clear if the alleged incidents included lawful actions in the course of war or violations of international humanitarian law by Coalition Forces. "Follow-up interviews about these incidents were requested of survey participants, but not granted," a PHR statement said.
"The findings in this area should constitute a wake-up call to the international community generally, but especially the CPA," Stork maintained.
The report has been forwarded the CPA in Baghdad and PHR hopes to present the full findings to CPA head, Paul Bremer.
"Lynn Amowitz, PHR’s Senior Medical Researchern also revealed the findings at a Pentagon briefing to representatives from the US State Department and Defence and the British Ministry of Defence," Heffernan said.
Commenting on the situation of Iraqi prisoners, Stork said: "The other serious matter is the inability of the PHR team to gain access to detention centers. The treatment of detainees and whether or not they will receive trials that meet international standards is a serious matter."
In its recommendations, PHR has said the US should "to the maximum extent possible" collect information on all dead and injured in the war - civilians and soldiers - for purposes of providing maximum information to family members and for affording proper burial. "In the case of deaths of soldiers, this is an obligation under the Geneva Conventions," a PHR statement said.
The survey also showed that interviewees were keen to see the UN playing a greater role in their country. "The majority of participants expressed support for an expanded role of the UN in rebuilding Iraq. PHR believes that the UN and humanitarian agencies and those with expertise in long-term development should have a larger role in the reconstruction process," the statement said.
Founded in 1986, Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), based in Boston in the US, mobilises the health professions to promote health by protecting human rights.
Theme(s): (IRIN) Human Rights
[ENDS]
This material comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this item, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2003
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