The international community, including the United Nations, is actively engaged in helping to rebuild Iraq and improve the quality of life for the Iraqi people.  On 10 August 2007, the Security Council adopted unanimously resolution 1770, which renewed for another year the mandate of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), and mandated UNAMI to play a more substantial role in Iraq towards the goal of an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation, better delivery of humanitarian support, promotion of human rights, and respect for the rule of law.  

Background

Since the conflict with Iraq in 2003, necessitated by the failure of Saddam Hussein’s regime to comply with numerous Security Council resolutions, the Security Council has taken a number of steps to respond to Iraq’s development, humanitarian, political and security needs – for the benefit of the Iraqi people.  

In May 2003, the Security Council adopted resolution 1483, in particular stressing the right of the Iraqi people freely to determine their own political future, and calling for humanitarian and development support from the international community.  The resolution also brought to an end more than a decade of economic sanctions imposed against Iraq by UN Security Council resolution 661 and subsequent resolutions, following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in 1990. The Council left in place an arms embargo against Iraq, for which there are appropriate exemptions for legitimate forces in the country.  Ongoing sanctions for the benefit of Iraq also prohibited the trade of stolen Iraqi cultural property and a requirement for all UN Member States to transfer to the Development Fund for Iraq all assets belonging to Saddam Hussein, senior members of his former regime, their families or entities controlled by them.

In August 2003, the Security Council, through resolution 1500–, established the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (UNAMI), to support the Special Representative of the Secretary-General in carrying out his mandate: coordinating and promoting humanitarian and reconstruction assistance and human rights; promoting the return of internally displaced persons and refugees; helping to establish local governance; and encouraging efforts towards legal and judicial reform.

In June 2004, the Council adopted resolution 1546–, which, among other things, established a timetable for Iraq’s political transition to democratic government, and elucidated the mandate for the Multinational Force in Iraq (MNF-I), which was first authorised by resolution 1511, and remains in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi Government and with the authority of the Security Council.

In August 2007, the Security Council adopted unanimously resolution 1770, which renewed for another year UNAMI’s mandate, and instructed  UNAMI to play a more substantial role in advising, supporting and assisting the government and people of Iraq towards the goal of an inclusive political dialogue and national reconciliation.  The resolution further strengthened UNAMI’s role in delivering humanitarian support, promoting human rights, and respect for the rule of law.

For a general overview please visit the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for an Iraq country profile.