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| Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello and UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. Photo/OHCHR | In a news conference on 30 July, Secretary-General Kofi Annan stressed that despite the divisions earlier in the year over the war in Iraq, the United Nations remained an important ally in the rebuilding of the country. "I think the message that comes through loud and clear, given the reactions of other Member States, is that multilateralism is important … that the imprimatur of the United Nations-the legitimacy the United Nations offers-is important."
In introducing on 22 July the Secretary-General's report on the work of the United Nations in the country, his Special Representative for Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello, stressed that prior to March 2003, "much important and impressive work had been carried out by the Organization in the humanitarian field and in the implementation of the Oil-for-Food programme". Mr. Vieira de Mello, who is also the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, outlined areas in which the UN could continue to assist, including in preparing for elections, offering expertise in human rights and issues of law and order, and meeting humanitarian needs. He said that there needed to be a clear timetable for the earliest possible restoration of the country's sovereignty. "Iraqis need to know that the current state of affairs will come to an end soon. They need to know that stability will return and that the occupation will end.". He told Council members that the people of Iraq needed to determine how best to deal with these challenges. "How effectively they do so will play a significant role in the extent to which they will be able to achieve harmony for their future. Equally, how effectively they deal with the past will go a long way towards ensuring that such egregious crimes will never again be possible."
Since his arrival in Iraq, the Special Representative has engaged in a preliminary process of identifying the challenges and assessing the resources needed to address them. He has held a wide-ranging series of meetings with a full spectrum of Iraqi figures, leaders of neighbouring countries, UN relief agencies and non-governmental organizations. On 30 June and 1 July, Mr. Vieira de Mello and his team convened in Baghdad the first human rights conference under UN auspices, which was organized jointly with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and brought together Iraqi and international experts, as well as representatives of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA), to share perspectives, identify practical measures and develop policy options on justice for past crimes.
The United Nations is also stepping up its political assistance to the new Iraqi Governing Council in writing a new constitution and holding elections. A team from the UN Department of Political Affairs will go to Iraq shortly to discuss with Mr. Vieira de Mello, the CPA and the Governing Council how they might be of assistance if the Iraqis want guidance in matters as preparing electoral rolls and registering political parties.
Many of the human rights issues that are being addressed, in particular the past crimes inflicted on the Iraqi people, are expected to be painful and complex. It is estimated that over the past three decades at least 290,000 Iraqis from all religions, ethnic groups, political affiliations, classes and professions have disappeared. In addition to the issue of past abuses, Mr. Vieira de Mello has said that human rights need to be protected for all Iraqis now, as well as in the future, with particular emphasis placed on the rights of women.
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