Iraq's National Human Rights Institution downgraded over ineffectiveness concerns

National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are independent bodies established to promote and protect human rights at the national level and hold authorities accountable with respect to their human rights obligations. To effectively fulfil their mandate, NHRIs must comply with the Paris Principles, which set international standards for independence, pluralism, and effectiveness. To evaluate their compliance with these international principles, NHRIs are regularly assessed by the SCA through a peer-review process to which civil society can contribute by submitting reports. NHRIs that are considered as fully compliant with the Paris Principles are granted “A” status, while those that only partially meet these standards receive “B” status.

In recent years, the IHCHR’s compliance with the Paris Principles was assessed by the SCA on three occasions. In June 2021, the IHCHR was accredited with “A” status, despite civil society concerns. However, in June 2024, the SCA decided to hold a special review of the IHCHR, and recommended that the IHCHR be downgraded to “B” status due to significant shortcomings in its independence and effectiveness. Due to the nature of this special review, the IHCHR’s downgrading to status “B” was not immediately effective, and gave the Iraqi NHRI one year to submit additional evidence demonstrating compliance. On December 3, 2025, the SCA confirmed its decision to downgrade the IHCHR, citing continued non-compliance with the Paris Principles.

Ahead of each review, MENA Rights Group submitted a report to the SCA, providing updated information about the IHCHR’s shortcomings with regards to its compliance with the Paris Principles, in law and in practice. Drawing on documentation and testimonies from local partners, our reports showed that the IHCHR repeatedly falls short of operating as an independent, impartial, and effective NHRI. Among our concerns, we highlighted the undue political influence over the IHCHR, and the placement of the IHCHR under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice, thereby severely undermining its credibility and ability to operate independently. Our report also raised the absence of commissioners since 2021, despite assurances that the selection process was ongoing, and the continued deterioration of the situation between 2024 and 2025, with around 90% of the IHCHR’s work and activities having been reportedly halted.

The SCA’s 2025 decision confirming the downgrading of the IHCHR to “B” status reflects many of the concerns MENA Rights Group raised regarding the IHCHR’s independence, effectiveness, and capacity to fulfil its mandate. In particular, the report notes with concern that “the presence of the Minister of Justice as head of the institution since September 2023, does not distinguish the IHCHR from the Executive and that such a structure does not allow the IHCHR to be independent from the government in its decision-making and methods of operation”. It further highlights that the “IHCHR continues to be without a Board of Commissioners since August 2021”. These findings underscore the urgent need for the reforms MENA Rights Group and our partners have recommended over the years, including the expedited appointment of a new Board of Commissioners in a transparent, open and participatory manner, increased public confidence in the IHCHR’s complaints-handling mandate, as well as regular and constructive engagement with civil society organisations.

MENA Rights Group welcomes the downgrade by the SCA of the IHCHR, as it reflects the shortcomings we and our civil society partners have repeatedly raised. We hope the SCA’s decision will prompt the IHCHR to urgently take measures to strengthen its independence, enhance its effectiveness, and actively engage with civil society to restore its credibility and ensure meaningful protection of human rights in Iraq. MENA Rights Group will continue, together with civil society partners, to monitor and assess the IHCHR’s independence and performance in the coming years.