United Nations Security Council Resolution 2732 – The situation concerning Iraq (UNAMI)

Resolution 2732 (2024)

The Security Council,

Recalling all its previous relevant resolutions on Iraq, in particular 1500 (2003), 1546 (2004), 1557 (2004), 1619 (2005), 1700 (2006), 1770 (2007), 1830 (2008), 1883 (2009), 1936 (2010), 2001 (2011), 2061 (2012), 2110 (2013), 2169 (2014), 2233(2015), 2299 (2016), 2379 (2017), 2421 (2018), 2470 (2019), 2522 (2020), 2576 (2021), 2631 (2022), 2682 (2023), and reiterating resolutions 2107 (2013) and 2621 (2022) on the situation between Iraq and Kuwait, and the values set forth in 2367 (2017),

Reaffirming the independence, sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity of Iraq, and emphasizing the importance of the stability, prosperity, and security of Iraq for the people of Iraq, the region, and the international community, particularly in light of Iraq’s territorial victory over ISIL (Da’esh), and encouraging Iraq and neighboring countries, in close consultation, to provide outreach, as well as good offices, to support regional dialogue and cooperation, where appropriate,

Supporting Iraq as it continues its stabilization efforts, including the ongoing fight against terrorism, including against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida and their affiliates, consistent with its obligations under international law including international human rights law and international humanitarian law and continues the task of recovery, reconstruction, and stabilization, including the requirement to meet the needs of all Iraqis, including women, youth, children, displaced persons, and persons belonging to ethnic and religious minorities,

Supporting the Government of Iraq as it continues to deliver on reforms, aimed at meeting the Iraqi people’s legitimate aspirations, to address corruption, respect and protect the human rights of all individuals in Iraq, promote accountability for human rights violations and abuses, deliver essential services, diversify the economy, create jobs, improve governance, combat climate change and environmental and water-related challenges, and strengthen viable and responsive state institutions, including the security sector,

Recognizing the Government of Iraq’s efforts to that effect, including working toward full implementation of the Yezidi Survivors Law and disbursing payments and other benefits as required under the law to survivors and victims, and noting the measures taken by State institutions to redouble efforts to pursue accountability for those responsible for human rights violations and abuses including the killing, serious injury, abduction or disappearance of demonstrators and journalists, including women, and to safeguard and respect the rule of law and the right to freedom of expression, further noting the Government of Iraq’s efforts towards the implementation of its National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security and the 2016 UN-Iraq Joint Communiqué on Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, and to hold perpetrators of sexual violence in conflict accountable and provide mental health and psychosocial support to all victims,

Welcoming the Government of Iraq’s efforts to assist internally displaced persons and displaced Iraqis in Syria to return and reintegrate to their areas of origin or resettle elsewhere in Iraq, renewing the call for international support for those efforts, and stressing the importance of achieving dignified, safe and durable solutions undertaken on a voluntary and informed basis,

Welcoming the Government of Iraq’s efforts to address the adverse effects of climate change and natural disasters,

Calling on the international community to support durable solutions and development efforts while the Government of Iraq assumes responsibility for the provision of humanitarian services,

Noting the recommendations contained in the Independent Strategic Review dated 28 March 2024 to streamline the activities of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI),

1. Takes note of the Government of Iraq’s letter dated 8 May 2024 and decides to extend UNAMI’s mandate for a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025 after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations except with respect to any remaining liquidation of the Mission pursuant to paragraph two;

2. Requests that the Secretary-General prepare, in consultation with the Government of Iraq, a transition and liquidation plan to be completed by 31 December 2024, for UNAMI to start the transfer of its tasks, as well as the orderly and safe drawdown and withdrawal of its personnel and assets, including identification of an end date for liquidation activities in Iraq;

3. Decides to authorize for a period to be determined based on administrative procedures subject to the UN Financial Rules and Regulations, the retention of guard units from within UNAMI’s existing footprint to protect the Mission’s personnel, facilities and assets, including during the liquidation period;

4. Calls on the Government of Iraq to cooperate fully with the UN during UNAMI’s transition, drawdown and liquidation;

5. Commends the Government of Iraq’s efforts to settle internal issues in Iraq and to make progress towards achieving the milestones set out in the Government of Iraq’s programme and priorities, including the holding of Iraqi Council of Representatives and Iraqi Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections in due course; preservation and strengthening of functioning institutions to sustain a structured and regular dialogue; and the strengthening of national human rights bodies that are effective and independent;

6. Notes the request of the Government of Iraq to draw down UNAMI’s activities in its letter dated 8 May 2024, and requests the Secretary-General to streamline the tasks of UNAMI as follows:

(a) Provide advice, support, and technical assistance to the Government of Iraq, the Independent High Electoral Commission and other Iraqi institutions with efforts to strengthen electoral preparation and processes to ensure free and fair elections, with the full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women, including federal Iraq’s parliamentary elections and the Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s parliamentary elections, through transparent and inclusive processes, including through regular technical reviews and detailed reporting on electoral preparations and processes, as part of the Secretary-General’s regular reporting cycle;

(b) Facilitate, within the transition period, progress towards the final resolution of outstanding issues between Iraq and Kuwait, including the return of Kuwaiti property and the National Archives, and the repatriation or return of all Kuwaiti and third country nationals or their remains, consistent with resolution 2107 (2013), and requests the Secretary-General to make recommendations by 31 May 2025 and present them to the Council for an appropriate follow-on mechanism to support continued progress should these issues not be resolved upon termination of UNAMI’s mandate;

(c) Promote, support, and facilitate the following development and humanitarian tasks, in coordination with the Government of Iraq, and in accordance with the Secretary-General’s transition plan for UNAMI to be completed by 31 December 2024:

(i) the safe, informed, voluntary and dignified return or local integration, as appropriate, of internally displaced persons, and displaced Iraqis in Syria, including through the efforts of the UN Country Team, while welcoming the national measures taken in this regard, and timely access to legal assistance and civil documentation for internally displaced persons and displaced Iraqis in Syria, including persons at risk of statelessness, particularly children without birth registration or other documentation of legal identity; programmes dedicated to the reintegration of displaced persons and survivors of terrorist attacks and atrocities, and support for reconstruction of areas liberated from ISIL/Daesh;

(ii) the coordination and implementation of programmes to improve Iraq’s capacity to provide effective essential civil and social services, including health care, inclusive of psychosocial support services, and education, for its people and continue to support Iraq’s regional and international donor coordination towards strengthening national ownership according to national needs;

(iii) Iraqi, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and other efforts, including through coordination with national institutions and regional organizations and, as appropriate, civil society, donors, and other international agencies, on economic reform, capacity-building and setting conditions for sustainable development, building resilience, and recovery and reconstruction including in areas affected by terrorism;

(iv) the contributions of UN agencies, funds, and programmes to the objectives outlined in this resolution under the unified leadership of the Secretary-General through the Special Representative for Iraq, supported by their designated Deputy;

(d) Promote accountability and the protection of human rights, and judicial and legal reform, with full respect for the sovereignty of Iraq and national ownership, in order to strengthen the rule of law, improve governance in Iraq, and support the Government of Iraq’s economic development goals and projects;

(e) Note, while commending the Government of Iraq on signing and implementing the National Action Plan and efforts to fulfill its commitments in coordination with relevant UN agencies, the importance of treating children affected by armed conflict primarily as victims, and encourage the Government of Iraq and UN Country Team, including UNICEF, to strengthen child protection, including the reintegration of children in accordance with Iraq’s national laws and Iraq’s obligations under international law, and to continue institutionalizing the measures taken in the implementation of the action plan;

7. Recognizes that the security of UN personnel is essential for the UN to carry out its work for the benefit of the people of Iraq and calls upon the Government of Iraq to continue to provide security and logistical support, to the UN’s presence in Iraq;

8. Requests the Secretary-General to report to the Council every six months, three times in total, with the first report occurring before 30 November 2 024, on the progress made in paragraph six towards the transition of all UNAMI’s responsibilities and its residual tasks;

9. Decides to remain seized of the matter.

Adopted by the Security Council at its 9642nd meeting, on 31 May 2024.