Human Rights Watch is writing on the occasion of your debate on Iraq and review of the mandate of the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF). We urge the Security Council and its members, particularly the United States, to take this opportunity to address concerns about the MNF detention system and the rights of persons deprived of their liberty under international law. As the Security Council reviews the MNF mandate in anticipation of its replacement by bilateral agreements between Iraq and the United States, the Security Council should request that any such agreements conform to internationally recognized norms on the rights of detainees.

Human Rights Watch is writing in advance of your debate on Iraq and briefing on the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and the Multi-National Force-Iraq (MNF). We urge you to take this occasion to address serious concerns regarding MNF detention practices, particularly respect for the rights of persons deprived of their liberty under international human rights law. As the MNF has invoked Security Council resolutions as the basis for its detention practices, we believe the Security Council must scrutinize those practices and do its utmost to assure that they conform to internationally recognized norms.

Human Rights Watch writes to urge Dr. Ihsanoglu to use his position as Secretary General of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference to support measures at the upcoming Summit of the Organisation of Islamic Conference in Dakar, Senegal on March 13-14 that would improve and strengthen the 1999 OIC Convention on Combating International Terrorism. In particular, the OIC should consider two amendments to the Convention to narrow its overbroad definition of terrorism and make absolutely clear that there is no sanction in Islam for deliberately attacking civilians, whatever the circumstances or justifications.

Human Rights Watch wrote a letter to General Siham Harake highlighting a few areas of concern related to the protection of Iraqis in Lebanon.

We are writing to the Presidency Council with regard to the Law for the Supreme National Commission for Accountability and Justice, which was approved on February 3, 2008. Having investigated and documented atrocities committed under Ba’ath Party rule, we support Iraq’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for these crimes and bar them from public employment.

Human Rights Watch joins with partner organizations in writing to UK Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs David Miliband, urging the UK Government to do much more to protect Iraqi refugees. Human Rights Watch also called on the UK Government to provide more information in regards to assistance plans for its former employees in Iraq.

Human Rights Watch and Human Rights First write to Rep. David Price (D-NC) in support of his proposed legislation, the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdicition Act (MEJA) Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007. This legislation would help close the legal loopholes that allow contractors in Iraq and Afghanistan to act with impunity.

Congratulations on your appointments as senior coordinator for Iraqi refugee issues and senior advisor for Iraqi refugee affairs, respectively. We wish you great success in these new positions. Human Rights Watch has been particularly concerned about Iraq’s neighbors closing their doors to Iraqis at their borders, thereby frustrating their right to seek asylum. We look forward to working with you to develop ways to keep those doors open. Our concern extends to Palestinian and Iranian refugees in Iraq who are particularly vulnerable. We are also concerned about growing numbers of internally displaced people in Iraq who are not being adequately protected or assisted.