United Nations Radio

The United Nations mission in Iraq (UNAMI) says the human rights situation in the country remains serious despite great improvements in security conditions.

In its latest report on the human rights in Iraq, UNAMI notes that there has been a marked drop in violent, high-visibility, high casualty attacks by militias or criminal gangs.

However, the report, which covers the first six months of this year says the targeted killings of journalists, educators, medical doctors, judges and lawyers have continued.

It also points to continuing criminal abductions for ransom and the targeting of religious and other minorities in Iraq.

More from Rupert Colville, the spokesman for the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.

"The report highlights the situation of detainees across the country, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Many detainees have been deprived of their liberty for months or even years often under harsh physical conditions without access to defense counsel and without being formally charged with any crime."

The UN report says ill-treatment and torture of detainees by Iraqi law enforcement authorities continue with impunity.

It also calls for urgent measures to combat violence against women across Iraq, including so-called honour crimes widely reported in the Kurdistan region.

Diane Bailey, United Nations.

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