The United Nations announced today that, since late last year, 20 legal defense centers have been providing free legal assistance to Iraqi detainees to help them defend themselves in criminal proceedings. The Programme for the Protection of Detainees and Torture Victims, funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is operating in 16 Iraqi governorates (also referred to as provinces) and is particularly oriented towards those “who do not have easy access to legal representation due to their financial, gender or family status”, according to today’s press release.
The Programme has reportedly assisted in 365 cases and provided telephone consultations to nearly 1,400 people. The UN reports that members of the legal community and civil society met in Amman, Jordan today to discuss challenges and opportunities for expansion.
See details of UNOPS’ activities in Iraq on its Iraqi Operations Centre page.
Relatedly, Human Rights Watch reported widespread torture in a secret Iraqi detention facility in a statement issued today, following interviews conducted earlier this month with Iraqi detainees.