IRAQ: The Irish Human Rights Commission (IHRC) addressed Iraqi parliamentarians at a UN-organised meeting in Geneva yesterday as part of a seminar aimed at providing models of good practice for human rights institutions and practice in Iraq.
Iraqi parliamentarians are considering establishing an independent human rights commission, which would operate in a manner similar to institutions such as the IHRC.
The IHRC's chief executive, Dr Alpha Connelly, told the Iraqi delegation of Ireland's experiences in developing a State watchdog body on human rights over the last five years.
"They were particularly interested in the respective roles of human rights institutions in monitoring the performance of government. They were also very interested in hearing of our link with parliament. I emphasised to them that the two institutions need not be competing with each other and that they could both play a complementary role," she said.
She told the parliamentarians of the extent to which the Government here has taken on board recommendations made by the IHRC, highlighting some successes, such as elements of the Garda Bill which were changed due in part to its concerns.