The "Support to Agricultural Livelihoods of Rural and Peri-Urban Returnees and Communities in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq" project was implemented under the FAO’s initiative, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and funded by the European Union (EU). This project aimed to rebuild agricultural livelihoods in Nineveh by supporting rural and peri-urban returnees, helping them restore their farms and create sustainable income sources. Through this initiative, farmers have come together, organized, and found new strength in cooperation.One of these farmers is Intissar Jamil (Om Mustaha), from Qaraqosh-Al Hamdania. She shares with us her journey of resilience and transformation, and how her life has changed through the cooperative movement."My name is Intissar Jamil (Om Mustaha), and I’m one of more than one hundred farmers—men and women—who have come together to form three cooperatives in Nineveh: Ashur, Um Al-Rabeein, and Al-Hadbaa. Together, we are rebuilding what conflict and displacement tried to destroy: our farms, our livelihoods, and our sense of community."Our journey started long before the official registration of our cooperatives in 2023. We were working in isolation—growing fodder here, producing milk there—but without coordination or structure. Every household was on its own, and every season was a struggle. Water was scarce, inputs expensive, and markets unpredictable.Then something shifted. We realized that we’re stronger when we work together. So, we organized. We got trained. We got legal recognition. And most importantly, we started trusting each other again.Today, each of our cooperatives has more than 40 members with official ID cards and shared responsibilities. We grow our own green fodder, raise our livestock using improved practices, and collect and process the milk ourselves. We make dairy products like cheese, yogurt, and ghee, and sell them in nearby villages and markets.When I walk into our collection center each morning, I no longer feel like just a small-scale farmer—I feel like a businesswoman, a community member, and a provider.This isn’t just about money. Yes, our incomes have improved—many of us now make regular sales, and we’re investing back into our farms. But the real transformation is what you can’t see in numbers. Women like me now have a seat at the table. We speak, we vote, we lead. Young people are staying in the village, choosing to work the land rather than leave. Neighbors who barely spoke before now run businesses together. We’ve created something powerful—a local solution to local problems.Farming in Nineveh isn’t easy. We face water shortages, degraded soil, and a fragile economy. But these cooperatives have given us tools—and more importantly, confidence. When we face a bad season, we face it together. When someone falls behind, the group steps in. Our strength isn’t just in our products—it’s in our solidarity. We are not victims. We are survivors, entrepreneurs, and innovators. We may live far from the cities, but we are at the heart of Iraq’s food system. And we’re proving that with a little structure, some knowledge, and a lot of trust, rural communities can not only recover—they can thrive.If you ever visit Nineveh, come see us. Taste our cheese, walk through our fields, and meet the people who refused to give up.We’re not just producing milk—we’re producing hope.

Karbala, 5 July 2025 – The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, conducted a visit today to Karbala Governorate, which included a meeting with H.E. the Governor, Mr. Nsayif Jassim Al-Khatabi.During the meeting with the Governor of Karbala, discussions focused on several matters, including topics of development in the governorate and the potential contribution of the United Nations through its specialized agencies. The Special Representative commended the progress achieved in the governorate and its importance at the national level.In a press conference, the Special Representative expressed the United Nations’ interest in supporting development and service improvement throughout Iraq, including in the promising governorate of Karbala. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations.The Special Representative also expressed his confidence in Iraq’s ability to advance to new stages of development, noting the human and scientific potential of Iraq’s people both inside and outside the country. Full text of the Special Representative’s remarks available at: https://youtu.be/__fpGS1fLsg

Karbala, 5 July 2025 – As part of his visit to Karbala, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq and Head of UNAMI, Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan, met today with the representative of the Supreme Religious Authority in the city, His Eminence Sheikh Abdul-Mahdi Al-Karbalai.The meeting included a discussion on the situation in Iraq and a number of issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on the historical role played by the religious authority in fostering national harmony, safeguarding Iraq’s social fabric, and promoting a culture of peace and tolerance among the Iraqi people in all their diversity.The UN Representative was also briefed on a number of humanitarian and charitable projects implemented by the religious authority to serve the people of Karbala Governorate across several sectors, including education, healthcare, and social services. The Special Representative commended these projects and community-based initiatives, noting their tangible impact on the lives and well-being of the governorate’s residents.

Erbil, Iraq – 2-3 June 2025The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism’s (UNOCT) Human Rights Unit, in collaboration with Iraq’s National Security Advisory (NSA), concluded a two-day workshop in Erbil on “Human Rights-Compliant Investigation Techniques in the Context of Counter-Terrorism for the Iraqi Law Enforcement and Intelligence Services in Diyala Governorate.”As part of the UNOCT project “Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism: Capacity-building Support to Law Enforcement and Intelligence Services in Iraq,” the workshop aimed to strengthen the capacity of Iraqi counter-terrorism professionals working in the Diyala governorate to conduct investigations that respect international human rights. The initiative is generously funded by the Government of Canada.Participants included members of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), officers from Diyala Governorate’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and representatives of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), in addition to the presence of one CSO from Diyala. Through interactive sessions, practical exercises, and expert-led discussions, the workshop addressed psychological approaches to investigations, interview techniques, stress management, and the legal boundaries of interrogation.Key objectives of the training included:Strengthening the capacity of participants to conduct human rights-compliant investigations in terrorism cases;Introducing principles of investigative psychology;Exploring the legal and ethical challenges facing investigators;Enhancing collaboration among investigative security agencies, judicial institutions, and human rights monitors.This marks the tenth workshop under the ongoing capacity-building initiative led by UNOCT and NSA, reinforcing Iraq’s efforts to ensure justice and accountability in counter-terrorism operations while upholding human rights principles.Ms. Shurooq Fakhir / Assistant Secretary of the National Counter-Terrorism Committee - NSA:  “We value our partnership with UNOCT and the Government of Canada in building the capacities of law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the HR field.”The event built the capacity of Iraqi law enforcement and intelligence officers from Diyala Governorate to comply with international HR in their CT work.Participants included 32 officers from NSA, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC), the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights (IHCHR), and security officers involved in investigating CT cases in Diyala Governorate. These participants have experience in handling terrorism-related cases.Participants engaged in interactive sessions covering the legal foundations of human rights in investigations and the role of investigative psychology. Practical exercises focused on human rights and the Iraqi legal framework.