Human Rights Overview
In 2024, Iraq’s human rights landscape remained deeply troubled, reflecting the country’s enduring political instability, economic hardship, and social challenges. Despite years of international aid and domestic efforts, Iraq continued to struggle with severe issues, including widespread displacement, systemic violations of children’s rights, suppression of freedom of expression, and the escalating impacts of climate change. These issues underscore the Iraqi government’s ongoing failure to protect its citizens and uphold basic human rights standards, raising serious questions about the country’s future[1][2][3]
Political Context
The December 2023 provincial elections, marred by a dismally low voter turnout of 41%, revealed the Iraqi public’s deep-seated disillusionment with their government. The lack of faith in the authorities, coupled with the persistent violence and insecurity stemming from factional conflicts and threats from groups like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), painted a bleak picture of Iraq’s political landscape. The government’s inability to establish stability or foster public trust has exacerbated human rights abuses, leaving many citizens vulnerable and disenfranchised[3].
Economic Situation
Iraq’s economy, overwhelmingly reliant on oil revenues—constituting over 90% of its total income—remains a glaring example of the government’s short-sighted economic policies. Despite the immense wealth generated from oil, there has been little to no progress in diversifying the economy or addressing the dire needs of marginalized communities. The government’s failure to implement sustainable economic reforms has perpetuated inequality and poverty, while the worsening climate crisis, marked by severe droughts and desertification, threatens the livelihoods of millions[3].
Social Issues
The human rights situation in Iraq is further compounded by several critical social issues:
Civil Documentation
An alarming number of Iraqis—up to 1 million—remain displaced and unable to obtain essential civil documentation, such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as national identification cards[1][2]. This bureaucratic failure has left many without access to basic public services and restricted their freedom of movement, effectively rendering them invisible in their own country. The government’s negligence in resolving this crisis is a stark violation of fundamental human rights and underscores the systemic dysfunction within the state apparatus[1][2].
Children’s Rights
The introduction of a draft child protection law in 2023 has done little to curb the rampant issue of child marriage in Iraq, where 25.5% of married women were wed before the age of 18[2]. The persistence of child marriage, driven by poverty, insecurity, and limited educational opportunities for girls, highlights the Iraqi government’s failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens. This issue not only violates children’s rights but also perpetuates cycles of poverty and gender inequality[2].
Freedom of Expression
The Iraqi government’s crackdown on “indecent content” online, leading to the imprisonment of several individuals, is a glaring example of the state’s disregard for freedom of expression[2]. Vaguely worded laws have been weaponized to silence journalists, activists, and political opponents, reflecting a broader trend of authoritarianism. This suppression of dissent stifles democratic discourse and undermines the very foundations of a free and just society[2].
Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
Iraq’s vulnerability to climate change, as the fifth most susceptible country globally, is a looming human rights catastrophe[2]. The government’s inadequate response to the environmental crisis—marked by worsening droughts, desertification, and pollution—threatens to displace millions more and devastate the nation’s agricultural base. Activists who have sounded the alarm on these issues have faced harassment, intimidation, and even threats to their lives, further highlighting the dangerous intersection of environmental degradation and human rights abuses in Iraq[2][3].
In conclusion, the human rights situation in Iraq in 2024 reflects a deeply fractured society, where political incompetence, economic mismanagement, and social neglect have created a perfect storm of suffering and injustice. The Iraqi government must urgently address these critical issues, or risk further entrenching the systemic abuses that have plagued the nation for decades.