The United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on Monday, strongly condemning Islamic State (IS) militants and associated groups for violating human rights and international humanitarian law.

The resolution, adopted by a special session of the HRC on human rights situation in Iraq, condemned in the strongest terms the "terrorist acts" committed by IS and associated groups.

It also condemned all violence against people based on their religious or ethnic affiliation as well as violence against women and children.

Flavia Pansieri, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in the special session that the violence and unrest in Iraq has escalated dramatically in recent months as the IS and associated armed groups have seized large parts of Anbar, Ninewa, Salah-al-Din and Diyala governorates.

She said evidence showed that serious violations of international human rights and humanitarian law have been committed in areas under the control of IS and associated groups, such as targeted killings, forced conversions, abductions, slavery, sexual and physical abuse and torture.

She added over one million people have been forced to flee their homes in terror, often under imminent and serious threat to their lives.

"The Islamic State is not an Iraqi phenomenon. It is a transnational organization that is an imminent danger for all countries of the world. It defies all human rights principles and international laws," Mohammed Shia' Al Sudani, the Iraqi Minister of Human Rights said at the session.

He called on all countries of the world to take a responsible stand in line with international conventions and instruments and humanitarian principles and values to take concerted action and offer the required support.

Meanwhile, the resolution called upon the international community to assist the Iraqi authorities to ensure protection and assistance to those who fled their home affected by terrorism.

It also requested the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights urgently to dispatch a mission to Iraq to investigate all violations and abuses of international human rights law committed by IS militants and associated groups and to provide a report on its findings to the HRC. Endit

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