A recent announcement from a UN representative revealed that the cancellation of USAID funding has led to the shuttering of a vital programme designed to support victims of torture and families of the missing in Iraq. Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), highlighted during a press conference in Geneva that, “Now was time for more investment in human rights, not less, to help in preventing conflicts and resolving crises.”
The programme was established following OHCHR’s call for comprehensive legislative action concerning Iraq’s significant number of disappeared persons. This troubling statistic is largely linked to historical issues surrounding torture, forced disappearances during the Ba’athist regime, the US invasion, and subsequent ISIS violence.
The funding cuts stemmed from a recent executive order by the Trump administration, which mandated a freeze on USAID disbursements for 90 days, reviewing their alignment with US foreign policy and alleged programmatic efficiency. This decision resulted in the cancellation of around 230 USAID grants and contracts, impacting numerous NGO and UN humanitarian initiatives. While USAID employees have fought for the continuation of essential support abroad, attempts to release funds for specific projects have faced legal setbacks.
Concerns have been voiced by the UN, Amnesty International, and major aid organisations regarding the potentially disastrous humanitarian consequences of such abrupt reductions in foreign aid. With approximately 47 percent of global humanitarian assistance funded by the US, the aid cuts have resulted in significant closures, including that of the South Africa office of the UN World Food Programme, illustrating a broader crisis in humanitarian assistance.
USAID funding cuts have led to the closure of a UN human rights programme aiding torture victims in Iraq. The cuts, resulting from a Trump administration order, affect many humanitarian initiatives, with the UN and other organisations warning of impending humanitarian disaster due to reduced aid. The OHCHR emphasises the need for increased investment in human rights to prevent further crises.
In conclusion, the abrupt USAID funding cuts have dire implications for human rights support in Iraq, particularly for victims of torture and families of the missing. The OHCHR stresses the urgent need for more investment in human rights to avert crises, yet the current landscape reveals significant challenges in maintaining vital humanitarian programmes. Raising alarms about a looming humanitarian disaster, organisations call for immediate action to restore essential funding and support.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
