[JURIST] Plans for the organization of a national human rights commission in Iraq [JURIST news archive] were announced Wednesday by members of the Iraqi parliament [official website] at a workshop sponsored by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) [official website]. The proposed commission, supported by many Iraqi political parties, will employ nine persons selected by the Iraqi parliament to monitor and report all human rights violations in the country. A leading Shiite lawmaker said the commission will be able to address popular complaints about human rights violations which "have taken place over the past three years because of past policies as well as the occupation."

In September, the latest UNAMI Human Rights Report [PDF text] on Iraq called for firm action by the government to address growing human rights concerns. A July UNAMI report [JURIST report] welcomed steps taken towards national reconciliation [proposal text and press release; JURIST report] under the administration of new Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki [official website]. AFP has more.