After 21 years of change.. Challenges and complications threaten Iraq's democracy

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[size=52]After 21 years of change.. Challenges and complications threaten Iraq's democracy[/size]

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2024-09-15
Iraq is still witnessing many challenges and complexities that threaten democracy in the country, despite the passage of 21 years since the change and transition to it in the system of government instead of dictatorship, while the latest report of the Democracy Index indicates that the country is among the ten countries most dangerous to democracy.[/size]
[size=45]Every year on September 15, the world celebrates the “International Day of Democracy,” an occasion designated by the United Nations to highlight the importance of democracy as one of the main foundations for achieving peace, development, and human rights.[/size]
[size=45]This day comes amid increasing challenges facing democratic systems around the world, whether politically, economically or socially, which reinforces the importance of supporting and promoting these values.[/size]
[size=45]In its official statement on the occasion of the International Day of Democracy 2024, the United Nations stressed that democracy is not just a political system, but a way of life that allows citizens to participate effectively in decision-making, and respects their fundamental rights and freedoms.[/size]
[size=45]“Although Iraq is on the cusp of 21 years of liberation from the former dictatorial regime, and the adoption of laws and a constitution, and freedom of election and voting, whether for parliament or provincial councils, the country is still witnessing many challenges and complications in the human rights file,” according to the spokesman for the High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, Sarmed Al-Badri.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Badri stresses that “there is a close connection between democracy and human rights, and the more democratic countries are, the more sustainable and effective their human rights laws are at the level of legislation and laws and their protection of the citizen and his rights.”[/size]
[size=45]He added: “Despite Iraq’s accession to many human rights agreements, the reality of human rights in Iraq still needs greater efforts. We still witness problems in health, the environment, services, education, housing, freedom of opinion and expression, prisons, and initial investigations.”[/size]
[size=45]He continues, “Iraq is also one of the countries that is witnessing ongoing crimes in terms of drug crimes, suicide, human trafficking, freedom of opinion and expression, child labor and their consequences that have affected domestic violence and the failure to close the file of displaced persons in the camps, in addition to corruption, the environment, desertification, drought and violations inside prisons due to overcrowding.”[/size]
[size=45]He explains that “the above makes human rights in Iraq not good despite the progress made in housing standards, daily income, and compensation for victims, which confirms the need to conduct a periodic review of laws and decisions with the reality we are witnessing and the progress made in this area.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Badri directs “an appeal to Parliament to expedite the enactment of laws that directly affect human rights, including laws on child protection, domestic violence, freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to access information, in addition to laws related to alternative punishments and to make legislative adjustments to all laws and their compatibility with human rights.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Badri also called on the Committee of Experts in the House of Representatives to expedite the appointment of the Board of Commissioners of the High Commission for Human Rights, “given that the Commission is one of the constitutional institutions and has an important role in monitoring the promotion of democracy in Iraq.”[/size]
[size=45]For his part, MP Abbas Al-Jubouri points out that “the transition from dictatorship to democracy resulted in a different scene, and this change is accompanied by many frictions and annoyances that may harm democratic work, but in principle, the democratic system remains the best system.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Jubouri explains, “As for the concept of democracy in Iraq, it is becoming more entrenched in the political process day after day, but we do not deny the existence of some obstacles or difficulties in this path. However, in the general course, democracy is viewed as a movement in a regional environment that is scarce with such a system, and this is a point that is recorded for Iraq.”[/size]
[size=45]The representative points out that “there are some practices at the level of individuals and small groups that are trying to exploit or invest in the opportunity of democracy to adopt an action here and another there, but that will not distort the scene as a whole.”[/size]
[size=45]In turn, human rights activist Rawaa Al-Moussawi, head of the “Irtiqa” Organization for Sustainable Development, confirms that “Iraq is considered a democratic country in terms of form and law, due to the existence of an electoral system, multiple authorities, and the involvement of the people in decisions, given the presence of representatives in parliament. Therefore, the citizen has a role in decision-making by allowing him to express his opinion and choose who represents him.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Moussawi added, “On the ground, the situation is unstable in terms of security and society, and this affects democracy and the rule of law. Democracy is also affected by loose weapons and administrative corruption, as well as freedoms and amending certain laws. However, democracy remains a new concept for the citizen, and increasing awareness of it plays an important role in the development of society.”[/size]
[size=45]The latest report of the Democracy Index conducted by the Normandy Institute for Studies and Research in the European Parliament indicates that Iraq is ranked 130th out of 138 countries, and that despite the passage of 21 years since the occupation of Iraq by America, the country is still suffering from a difficult situation in terms of security instability, a humanitarian, economic and development crisis, energy shortages, sectarianism and corruption, and Iraq scored only 3.6 points.[/size]
[size=45]The report explained that Iraq was ranked 133rd last year, 2023, meaning that it has advanced three places this year, but there are still dangers that threaten peace and democracy in Iraq, and “attacks by Iranian-backed militias pose a threat to Iraq’s security, and Iraq is still under the threat of terrorism, and it is weak in the face of climate change, and suffers from water scarcity and a food crisis.”[/size]
[size=45]According to the report, there are eleven dangers that threaten peace and democracy in the world, and these dangers are: terrorism, economic crises, climate change, energy instability, conflict and violence, fragile states, international crimes on borders, and weapons of mass destruction.[/size]
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