Iraq chairs the Asia-Pacific group and receives international endorsement

  Iraq chairs the Asia-Pacific group and receives international endorsement

Iraq assumed the presidency of the Asia-Pacific Group for the month of July, and received the group's support for its candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council (2026–2028). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that “the monthly meeting of the Asia-Pacific Group was held for the month of June at the United Nations headquarters in New York, during which the group’s countries announced their support and endorsement of the Republic of Iraq’s candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council for the period 2026–2028.” 

 He added that “this endorsement is the result of the intensive diplomatic efforts made by the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its permanent missions and embassies around the world, as part of the nomination campaign that reflects Iraq’s firm commitment to the values ​​and principles of human rights.”

 The Permanent Representative of the Republic of Iraq to the United Nations, Abbas Kazim Obaid, expressed his “deep thanks and gratitude to the member states of the regional group for their support,” noting that “this endorsement represents an important milestone in the nomination process and adds a double responsibility to the Iraqi delegation ahead of the elections scheduled for the United Nations General Assembly in October 2025.” 

In his address to the group, Obaid stressed that “Iraq’s candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council is based on the national achievements and measures taken by the Iraqi government in the field of promoting human rights, as well as Iraq's constructive cooperation with relevant UN mechanisms." During the meeting, the Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in his capacity as Chair of the Group for the month of June, announced that "Iraq will assume the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Group for July 2025, a step that reflects the growing confidence in Iraq's active role within the UN system. 

The handover ceremony took place, and all missions of Member States and regional groups were officially informed." At the conclusion of the meeting, the Member States of the Group expressed their congratulations to Iraq on assuming the chairmanship of the Group, expressing their confidence in its ability to effectively represent the Group's interests and priorities.  linl