Category: Unami

BAGHDAD: Iraq has asked that the UN assistance mission set up after the US-led invasion of the country in 2003 end its operations by the end of 2025, saying it is no longer needed because Iraq has made significant progress towards stability.

Based in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone, the mission was established with a broad mandate to assist in the development of Iraqi institutions, support political dialogue and elections, and promote human rights.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani said Iraq wants to deepen cooperation with other UN organizations, but the political work of the UN assistance mission, known as UNAMI, is no longer needed.

The head of the mission in Iraq frequently shuttles between top political, judicial and security officials in a job that supporters see as important to conflict prevention and resolution but critics have often described as meddling.

Sudani in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that the country has managed to take important steps in many areas, especially those under the mandate of UNAMI.

The Iraqi government has decided to end several international missions from 2023, including the US-led coalition formed in 2014 to fight Islamic State and the UN mission set up to help hold the jihadist group accountable for its crimes.

Iraqi officials say the country has come a long way since the sectarian bloodshed following the US-led invasion and Islamic State’s attempt to establish a caliphate, and that it no longer needs as much international help.

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Some critics worry about the stability of the young democracy given the recurring conflicts and the presence of many heavily armed military-political groups that have often fought in the streets, most recently in 2022.

Some diplomats and UN officials are also concerned about…

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In May, Mozambique holds the presidency of the UN Security Council.   

Mozambique is expected to convene two signature events during its presidency. One will be a high-level debate on strengthening the role of African states in addressing global security and development challenges under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. UN and AU representatives are the anticipated briefers.

Mozambique’s second signature event for the month will be a debate on the role of women and youth in maintaining peace and security, also under the “Maintenance of international peace and security” agenda item. Mozambique’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Verónica Nataniel Macamo Dlhovo is expected to chair the meeting. Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo, Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs Felipe Paullier, a high-level representative of UN Women, and a civil society representative are expected to brief.

This month, the Security Council will hold its annual debate on the protection of civilians. The expected briefers are Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) President Mirjana Spoljaric Egger, and a civil society representative.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi is also expected to brief the Council in May.

African issues on the programme in May are:   

• Sudan/South Sudan, meeting on the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and recent developments between the two countries; 

• South Sudan, renewal of the 2206 South Sudan sanctions regime and the mandate of the Panel of Experts assisting the 2206 South Sudan Sanctions Committee; 

• Libya, briefing by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on the court’s Libya-related activities and reauthorisation of measures under resolution 2292 to inspect vessels on the high seas off the coast of Libya; and  

• Sahel, meeting on the Group…

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2024-04-07T14:06:11+00:00

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Shafaq News/ The head of Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court, Jassim Mohammed Aboud, on Sunday called on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to play a role in resolving the obstacles to holding the parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, which he described as a “federal region” citing article 117 of the Iraqi constitution. 

A statement from the council’s media office said that “the Chief Justice, Judge Jassim Mohammed Aboud, received today the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, and her accompanying delegation at the headquarters of the council in Baghdad.”

The meeting discussed the role of UNAMI since 2003, praised the “great sacrifices it made, including the martyrdom of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Iraq at the time, in a terrorist bombing.”

The judge, according to the statement, said the mission played a role “in what Iraq has reached now, especially in the term of elections,” as it helped “guarantee the election’s integrity and comprehensiveness.”

He then invited UNAMI to “play a role in resolving the obstacles facing holding the elections of the Kurdistan Region’s Parliament.”

Aboud defended the Desert Supreme Court’s decision and said the ruling on domiciliation of pensions, salaries, and social support in federal banks came in response to a lawsuit filed before the judges by the public servants of the Kurdistan Region themselves.

“The Court does choose the lawsuits. Plaintiffs file them,” he added. “The difference between the federal and regional governments on the interpretation of the budget law might affect the disbursement of the salaries this week.”

“The Constitution of the Republic of Iraq, in accordance with Article 117, recognizes the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and its existing authorities as…

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A German Federal Court on Wednesday struck down an appeal lodged by a 32-year-old German woman who, in 2015, while married to an Islamic State fighter, allowed an enslaved 5-year-old Yazidi girl to die of thirst.

For more stories from The Media Line go to themedialine.org

Known publicly as Jessica W., the defendant was sentenced to 14 years in 2021 after being deported back to Germany from Turkey following the nominal defeat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

The defendant and her husband, Taha Al-J., an Iraqi national, were both found liable for the girl’s death when evidence showed that the girl had been chained to a tree by the husband and left to die in the Iraqi city of Fallujah.

Jessica W. was convicted in the original Frankfurt-based trial of having had the ability to prevent the death while actively deciding to do nothing. She was found guilty of two counts of crimes against humanity through enslavement and one count of having joined a terrorist organization abroad.

Jessica W.’s appeal was denied

Reading the ruling on Wednesday, the court found that the woman’s appeal was “manifestly unfounded” but did not clarify on what grounds the defendant had appealed the sentence.Displaced Yazidi women protest outside the headquarters of the UN Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), north of Baghdad, in 2015. (credit: AZAD LASHKARI/REUTERS)

In the original 2021 trial, Jessica W. had first been given a 10-year sentence, but given the severity of the crimes against humanity, that sentence was increased.

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Press Releases of Tuesday, 19 March 2024

Source: Unami Skincare

2024-03-19

Unami Skincare has officially launched a new line of all-natural skincare products

Unami Skincare, formerly known as Nutty Cosmetics, has officially launched a new line of all-natural skincare products.

The company was founded by a US based Ghanaian entrepreneur whose grandmother used to sell shea butter for a living.

Through her grandmother’s shea butter business, her mother, siblings, and herself had the privilege of traveling to America and becoming citizens of America.

Her mother’s story about how her grandmother was able to sell tubs of shea butter, coconut milk, and Kente (an expensive and traditional Ghanaian cloth) to pay for their education inspired her to start her own shea butter business.

With the introduction of her entirely new line of natural skincare products, namely:

– Nutty Peach

– Masked Up

– Lemongrass + Lavender Body Oil

– Sweet Nilla

– Tropical Mango

BODY SCRUBS

– Soft Nyash

– I’m That Girl

– It’s Giving

– No Wahala

Josephine Cerwaa Bonsu, CEO of Unami Skincare and a Rutgers University graduate, is also involved in building infrastructure for women who manufacture shea and black soap in Ghana, which has served as a source of motivation for her success in business. She believes that this has helped her grow professionally and personally because giving up would imply giving up on them.

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2024-03-18T19:27:07+00:00

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Shafaq News/ On Monday, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) called the Kurdish parties to prioritize the people interests, considering holding the parliamentary elections “essential.”

“We take note of today’s KDP decision, as we have taken note of the FSC decision last month. We call on all parties to work in the interest of the people, and thus towards solutions, rather than another prolonged impasse. The holding of the 10 June KRI elections is essential.” UNAMI said in a statement.

The Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) declared on Monday its decision to boycott the upcoming parliamentary elections in the Kurdistan Region, warning of potential withdrawal from Iraq’s political process if the State Administration Coalition (SAC) fails to adhere to agreed-upon terms.

The KDP’s Political Bureau released a statement, urging the SAC parties to “fulfill their national responsibilities by upholding the constitution and honoring all provisions of the political and administrative agreement governing the current government led by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani.” Underscoring that “continuing in the political process under the current conditions would be untenable for the KDP.”

In addition, the statement denounced the decisions made by the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court regarding the Kurdistan Region elections.

Last February, Iraq’s Supreme Court issued rulings related to the Kurdistan Region’s election law.

The court declared that a specific article concerning the minority quota in KRG’s provincial election law was deemed “unconstitutional.” This article, part of a law initially adopted in 1992 and revised in 2013, mandates 11 quota seats in the Regional parliament for ethnic and religious minorities. In response, Turkmen and Christian parties withdrew from the elections.

Furthermore, the verdict stated that Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission will take over from…

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2024-03-03T16:34:41+00:00

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Shafaq News/ The diplomatic missions in Erbil and Baghdad welcomed, on Sunday, the announcement of the date for the Kurdistan Region Parliament elections.

The Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani, said in a statement, “the diplomatic envoys supported holding “free, fair and transparent” elections and urged the political forces in the Kurdistan Region to stick to the final date for the elections.”

The consulates of the US, France, Italy and the Netherlands in Erbil said on Twitter that they supported the election date, and that holding the elections is a way of applying the principles of democracy.

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq “UNAMI” also said that it supported setting the date for the elections and that it was ready to help.

Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (Political) at UNAMI said, “It’s 10 June for the Kurdistan Parliamentary elections. Looking forward to no more obstacles. UN in Iraq is ready to continue to provide its support as requested.”

Noteworthy, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) announced on Sunday, that it opened the registration for the Kurdish political parties and blocs that want to take part in the Kurdistan Region Parliament elections in 2024, from March 5 to March 14, which cannot be extended. The registration will be in Baghdad at the Department of Political Parties and Organizations Affairs and at the electoral offices in the Kurdistan Region provinces.

Earlier today, The Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani signed a regional order that sets the date for the next Kurdistan Region Parliament elections.

The order, which is based on the second paragraph of the first article of the amended Kurdistan Region Presidency Law No. (1) of 2005, sets June 10, 2024…

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