“When UNAMI started, Iraq was a very different place than today,” he said. UN News. Just a few days into the mission, in August 2003, the UN was attacked at its headquarters in Baghdad, leaving 22 employees dead and more than 100 injured.
A truck bomb destroyed the United Nations headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003.
Today a new era has begun: “With the sacrifices of the Iraqis above all, and with international support, particularly from the United Nations, Iraq believes it is ready to move to another phase, solidifying its sovereignty and territorial integrity. I sincerely believe that Iraq is ready for that.”
UN Secretary-General António Guterres will travel to Baghdad to join Iraqis and the diplomatic community to commemorate the closure of the Mission, an event he called a clear sign that it is a “mission accomplished.”
Democratic progress
Al Hassan said recent political developments in Iraq underscore how dramatically the country has stabilized.
The parliamentary elections held in November, which UNAMI supported, were generally considered among the most credible to date. With a voter turnout of 56 percent, they were also a demonstration of renewed public commitment.
“They were the most fair, free and peaceful elections,” he said. “When you see such a fair and democratic election, you know that this is believing in a new Iraq.”
A voter at a polling station in Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, on election day. (archive)
Over the years, UNAMI has provided critical support in a wide range of areas: advising the Government on political stabilization, promoting inclusive national dialogue and supporting community-level reconciliation in conflict-affected areas.
It has also played a central role in electoral assistance, helping Iraq conduct multiple rounds of local and national elections.
Security change
Among UNAMI’s most important legacies, Al Hassan said, is the dramatic improvement in security. He noted that Iraq “would have had no way of defeating Da’esh without the help of the United Nations and the international community,” but stressed that it was ultimately the courage and resilience of Iraqis that reversed the extremist group’s advances.
The country is still feeling the long-term impact of the conflict. Approximately one million Iraqis remain internally displaced, including more than 100,000 Yazidis still living in camps after unimaginable suffering at the hands of Daesh.
At the Rehabilitation Center in Jeddah, Iraq, the UN Secretary-General met with returnees from Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria, where many Iraqis, Syrians and third-country nationals – mainly women and children – remain stranded. (2023)
Many remain unable to return to their homes, particularly to the Yazidi heartland of Sinjar, due to the destruction of infrastructure and unresolved security concerns.
“I hope they have the time, resources and support to return to the homes from which they were taken,” he said. “It’s about time.”
A gender lens
Promoting women’s rights has been an integral part of UNAMI’s mandate, and Al Hassan said Iraq must continue that work long after the Mission is gone.
“Yes, Iraq today is much better than before in terms of women’s rights,” she said. “But unfortunately violence against women has increased.”
He stressed that sustainable progress must come from within. “We want Iraqis to be the sponsors and defenders of women’s rights, through Iraqi law, Iraqi protection and Iraqi legislation,” she said. “Ultimately, what matters is the protection of your own people,” Al Hassan added.
An important pillar of UNAMI’s mandate has been the promotion of human rights, including supporting judicial and legal reforms, protecting vulnerable communities, and promoting the rights of women and minorities.
These responsibilities have shaped the work of the Mission until its planned closure in December 2025.
As Iraq prepares to take its seat on the UN Human Rights Council, he said the country “must act as such,” ensuring full protection of women, youth and minorities and safeguarding freedom of expression.
UN presence remains in Iraq
While the political mission will close, Al Hassan emphasized that the broader UN footprint will remain unchanged.
“People confuse UNAMI with the United Nations,” he said. “All specialized agencies (UNICEF, WHO, IOM, UNDP and many others) will remain in Iraq. Even the World Bank and the IMF are opening new offices.”
With significant oil reserves and a large GDP, Iraq is not seeking help, he noted. “Iraq does not need charity; it needs the support and friendship of the international community.”
Humanitarian partners distribute emergency assistance in the village of Ibrahim Khalil in Iraq.
‘Success story’ in a turbulent region
Calling Iraq “a success story” and “a unique country,” Mr. Al Hassan urged the international community to give Iraq the space and support it needs to succeed.
“My message to the international community and neighboring countries is to give Iraq the opportunity to prove itself worthy of the freedom for which Iraqis paid a very high price.”
The departure of UNAMI does not mark the end of the partnership between Iraq and the UN.
“I have no doubt that the Iraqis have turned the page towards another beautiful situation that will put their country in a better position than before,” Mr. Al Hassan said.