Iraq

The top UN official in Iraq Nov. 17 welcomed the country’s establishment of an independent commission to promote and protect human. Staffan de Mistura issued a statement in Baghdad calling the creation of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR) “a milestone” that will further existing efforts by the national Government’s human rights ministry, the judiciary, the Council of Representatives, law enforcement agencies and civil society groups. In other news, local NGOs are concerned about the rights of detainees in US military custody due to be transferred to the Iraqi authorities in 2009 said activist Basil al-Azawi, who heads the Commission for Civil Society Enterprises. (UN News Service, IRIN)