Since 1992 the FIDH has condemned embargoes that "have direct and indirect consequences for the civilian populations,
whether they are imposed by a government or the international community, and whether they apply indiscriminately or are
accompanied by humanitarian safeguard measures". (31st FIDH Congress, 25 January 1992). The FIDH again called for the
lifting of the embargo against Iraq at its 34th Congress in January 2001 in Casablanca.
While it is necessary and legitimate to denounce the embargo, this should not serve as an excuse for saying nothing about the
terrible repression inflicted, by the Iraqi regime itself, in particular on its own populations, in violation of its international
commitments. Nor should it be forgotten that this repression was one of the reasons for inflicting international sanctions in the
first place.
These populations, who have already deeply suffered from the deadly deprivations inflicted on them in the name of the
"international community" and from the criminal repression enforced by a despotic regime, are also the victims of the effects
of the unilateral approach of the "pro embargoes" and the "anti-embargoes" which results in total lack of action.
For the FIDH any prospect of improving the situation - which is certainly not easy - requires that all dimensions of it first be
systematically and objectively documented.
That was the rationale behind the FIDH approach when, with Human Rights Alliance, it gathered testimonies of the victims of
the Iraqi regime, which constitute the corner-stone of the report entitled "An Intolerable, Forgotten and Unpunished
Repression". The report highlights the horrors of a scarcely mentioned on-going repression of the Iraqi population.
Such is also the rationale behind the FIDH report on the sanctions, entitled "The sanctions against Iraq from the point of view
of Human Rights: a devastating, unjustified and unacceptable method". The legal analysis shows that the sanctions imposed
are completely contrary to international Human Rights law, which in this case should take precedence over the law on the
maintenance of international peace and security.
For several years the FIDH has constantly requested authorisation to carry out an international enquiry on the Human Rights
situation, including the consequences of the embargo, without ever receiving an answer from the Iraqi authorities. In 2001 the
request was reiterated, without success. The FIDH reaffirms its readiness to carry out such an enquiry.
Things being as they are, the obstacles raised against an objective evaluation of the situation in the field make it even more
justified to denounce the situation facing the Iraqi populations. The sole aim is to carry the voice of the desperate calls for help
from the victims, all the victims.
Sanctions Against Iraq and Human Rights: a devastating, misguided, intolerable method
The international embargo imposed on Iraq since 1990 constitutes in itself a series of systematic violations of human rights.
These are further aggravated by the way they have been exploited by Saddam Hussein’s regime. The effects of the embargo go
completely against the aims professed by the United Nations Security Council, and have had devastating consequences for the
people of Iraq, while at the same time helping to keep in power a dictatorial regime.