Delegate Name: Fathima Mohamed Ihsanullah

Committee: General Assembly Third Committee

Topic: Promoting and protecting the rights of refugees and internally displaced persons
Country: Republic of Iraq

In the last decade, a plethora of internally displaced persons have returned to their home
countries in which conflicts have subsided. Devastation and neglect in these locations typically
have an immense impact that, it is very hard for returnees to obtain essential services, and enjoy
the protection of the law. In this regard, the concept of non-refoulement is crucial to furthering
endeavors to diminish the protracted nature of displacement crises. Promotion and protection of
refugees and IDPs alike have often been hampered by issues pertaining to social and
humanitarian matters, resettlement and statelessness, harm against women and children, and
barriers in access to asylums. According to the UNHCR’s statistics on forced displacement,
Global refugee numbers rose to 35.3 million by the end of 2022; the highest annual increase ever
noted. Internally displaced persons1,are referred to as,“persons or groups of persons who have
been forced or obliged to flee or to leave their homes or places of habitual residence…”
Overlapping with the causes of protecting refugees, portrays the interconnection of gender-based
violence, given that 1 in 5 refugee or internally displaced women have faced sexual violence.
Moreover, people who are affected by statelessness may face discrimination and breaches of
their rights if their issues with nationality aren't properly taken into account in international
protection proceedings and in the delivery of basic services.

With reference to the ties between child protection for refugees are child protection programs in
numerous refugee communities that continuously face obstacles such as: lack of resources,
cultural differences, trauma, and mental health needs- all of which impede the UNHCR’s
effectiveness in achieving its primary goal of ensuring that the people of concern obtain full
respect for their rights. Additionally, The UNDP-UNHCR Global Collaboration Framework for
Inclusion and Solutions 2023–2025 expands on previous collaborations by emphasizing regions
in which UNDP is well-positioned to provide development funding, advocacy, and technical help
to situations involving forced displacement. A collaborative effort and cooperation by UN
partners such as the IOM/UNHCR Framework Engagement, UNDP-UNHCR Global
Collaboration Framework, and the UNHCR and UNICEF Strategic Collaboration Framework are
all exemplary examples of major stakeholders along with other key parties and member states
that would aid in coping with the crisis.

In 2022, the UNHCR and UNHRC published resolution papers wherein topics of promotion and
protection of all human rights and questions concerning refugees and IDPs alike were addressed.
The UNHRC has addressed a plethora of consequences pertaining to refugees through
resolutions such as, Resolution 71/1, Resolution 73/151, Resolution 76/264, and Resolution
58/153. Under a similar topic of interest, the UNHRC has handled the implications of the
promotion and protection of refugees through resolutions such as Resolution 5/1, Resolution
41/15 and Resolution 69/283.
As of 2022, the population figures of the Republic of Iraq showed that IDPs were of 1.2 million,
stateless persons were of 47100, and IDP returnees were of 5 million. Moreover, 8,000 Refugee
families received monthly cash assistance since the start of 2022. Iraq, a nation that has had

1 Who are IDPs?

protracted conflict of its own, has served as a haven for many refugees escaping their own
nations.

For those who are legally entitled to Iraqi nationality, UNHCR has increased efforts to abolish
statelessness by the end of 2023. These efforts range from conducting targeted surveys to
identify stateless and at-risk populations to technical support to the Iraqi government. With the
government authorities leading the way, UNHCR's work in Iraq is quickly shifting from an
emergency reaction to a longer-term development approach, in accordance with the international
community's shift to a response more founded in a sustainable development framework.
According to the Humanitarian Country Team's decision to phase out the humanitarian response
for IDPs and concentrate on long-term solutions under the UN Sustainable Development and
Cooperation Framework (UNSCDF), the clusters will be deactivated as of 2023.

Iraq would like the world to know that the country is now at peace and focuses on improving
everyday life for its people. The republic of Iraq believes that the UNHCR should take advantage
of established connections with intergovernmental organizations and government entities to
promote for IDPs to be included in national systems, and should also leverage existing relations
with IMF, OECD and the World Bank to finance and contribute to broader policy discourse for
IDPs. The Republic of Iraq, in accordance with the UNHCR Institutional Plan on Solutions to
Internal Displacement would like to collaborate on a constructive solution to this urgent and
imminent issue.

Bibliography:
1. https://reliefweb.int/report/iraq/unhcr-iraq-factsheet-december-2022
2. https://apnews.com/article/politics-iraq-government-united-states-iran-latif-rashid-
4a00f6f76b58fe3a12a6d474baad18e7
3. https://www.unhcr.org/media/66130
4. https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G22/408/83/PDF/G2240883.pdf?
OpenElement
5. https://www.unhcr.org/sites/default/files/legacy-pdf/63be99554.pdf
6. https://www.wvi.org/stories/in-an-instant/five-big-concerns-refugee-children