An analysis of the consequences of UNAMI’s work during the October protests in Iraq on the trust in UNAMI and the perception of the concept of human rights

In this article, we assess the role of United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) as human rights promotor in Iraq specifically during the protests, which broke out in Bagdad on the 1st the October 2019. We have two main objectives. Firstly, through analysing the official statements of UNAMI, we outline and reveal the undertakings of the organisation during the protests. We critically analyse how the rights enter and are promoted in the work of UNAMI during the latest protests. Secondly, through interviews with Iraqi journalists, human rights activists, political analysts, clerks and protesters following the situation in Iraq, we evaluate the possible consequences of the compatibility mismatch between the UNAMI working methods and ability to sustainably promote the human rights. Moreover, we evaluate the impact of the compatibility mismatch on the trust in the UNAMI and the understanding about the concepts of human rights in Iraq; the value that the UN tries to promote. Understanding the possible consequences of the probable mismatch is essential as the possible decaying of the trust in a UN mission and the values it promotes might have long-term consequences negatively influencing other UN initiatives in the Middle East region.