UNAMI: building the capacity of civil society organizations to monitor hate speech and gender-based violence in relation to the upcoming elections

26 August, Baghdad – UNAMI’s Human Rights Office and Gender Unit in cooperation with the Iraq Foundation facilitated an online workshop for seven civil society organizations (CSOs) from seven governorates of Iraq. The event aimed to strengthen CSO’s theoretical knowledge as well as practical skills in relation to the monitoring and reporting of hate speech and gender-based violence in the run-up to the October elections. In total, 24 participants (14 women and 10 men) discussed practical challenges faced in their work on these sensitive subject matters. Further, specific issues in relation to the concept of hate speech as well as good practices from other countries thereto have been discussed. Finally, UNAMI’s activities on election related human rights violations have been presented as well as possibilities to coordinate on common areas of monitoring.