United Nations in Iraq

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Iraq:

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10 September 2021

Nearly 4.7 million old Electronic Voter Cards taken out of Iraq’s electoral system ahead of October 10 polls

The shredding and disposal of over 4,670,000 electronic voter cards, which were printed before the 2014 and 2018 elections but never picked up by registered Iraqi voters, commenced on Wednesday, September 9, at Al-Dabash warehouse in Baghdad. Staff from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) joined officials from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) for the exercise that will culminate in the removal of the information on those cards from the voter registration database. IHEC’s Operations Manager, Satter Hadi Mahmood, who led the old voter card disposal exercise said the number to be destroyed is likely to increase to more than 5,000,000, as registered voters hand over their old electronic voter cards in exchange for the new biometric cards being issued by IHEC for the October 10 elections. “No one is able to vote on behalf of another,” he declared. “The voter must be the one whose information is stored on the card, and it has to match all the recorded 10-digit fingerprints of the individual before they can proceed. If they don’t match, the person will not be allowed to vote.”Mahmood encouraged registered voters to pick up their new biometric voter cards from IHEC now, ahead of the elections. “Those people who were calling for change can only effect such change through voting, and they have the chance now.” The issue of millions of old unclaimed electronic voter cards kept by IHEC had been a major concern to many Iraqis who feared that those cards could be used for rigging the elections. It is hoped that the destruction of the cards will now put those fears to rest, and people will continue to prepare and be ready to cast their ballots on Election Day, which is barely a month away. On Election Day, voters using electronic voter cards issued for previous elections will have to show additional photo identity documents. Before casting their ballots, voters with electronic voter cards will have their 10 fingerprints taken and the fingerprints will be cross-checked to make sure no one is able to vote more than once. In addition, electronic voter cards will be checked by a Voter Verification Device on Election Day. If the card cannot be read, the voter won’t be allowed to vote. Also, after voting, voters’ electronic voter cards will be disabled for 72 hours. The United Nations will continue to support and advise the Independent High Electoral Commission as it works towards credible and transparent elections. Author: Solomon Moriba, Communication Advisor, Office of Electoral Assistance, UNAMI

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30 August 2021

UNAMI lauds IHEC’s efforts to conduct public simulation exercises ahead of elections

On 23 August 2021, Iraq’s Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), with the support of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), conducted a simulation to test the process that was set up for the country’s early legislative elections, scheduled for 10 October 2021. During the nationwide exercise, which was open to political parties and the media, thousands of IHEC staff played the role of voters and showed up at designated polling centers to cast their test ballots. The simulation allowed IHEC’s technical staff to run through the entire polling, counting and results transmission processes in order to identify and address any issues prior to the elections. The Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq, Ms. Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir, observed the election simulation exercise at IHEC Headquarters in Baghdad. “This process is important, and its purpose is to avoid mistakes on Election Day,” she said. Lauding the simulation’s success, she told reporters that UNAMI supports IHEC in all electoral procedures and affirmed that the UN Mission is ready to provide additional support if requested. She added, “The United Nations has more than 150 international and national personnel working with IHEC to ensure the success of the upcoming elections, and there are also 130 additional international staff who will arrive in Iraq to monitor the elections.” Many Iraqis are hopeful that this year’s elections will help enhance progress in their country. “This is an important step towards the future, and I hope that the elections will be as easy as what we have experienced today during the simulation,” said Noor, a young working mother who cast a test ballot in downtown Baghdad. “I really hope that the role of women will be more visible in the elections this time around, and that the people will elect good candidates.” Noor said she believed in a brighter future for the people of Iraq. The upcoming elections will be an important milestone for Iraq’s future progress, and as Iraq charts its own path, the United Nations will continue to stand with it.

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26 July 2021

Iraq launches a new ‘Human Rights National Action Plan’

On 26 July, at an event chaired by the Deputy Minister of Justice and organized with the support of the Office of the President and UNAMI Human Rights Office, Iraq publicly launched its new five-year Human Rights National Action Plan. The Human Rights National Action Plan, prepared by the Ministry of Justice and endorsed by the Council of Ministers, seeks to harmonise national legislation with international human rights standards, strengthen national policies for the protection and promotion of human rights, and build human rights capacity within government institutions. The Action Plan draws on many of the key observations made by UN Treaty Bodies during their ongoing dialogue with Iraq and also reflects the comprehensive recommendations made by UN member states during the third cycle of the Universal Periodic Review of Iraq conducted in 2019. Speaking at the event, the Deputy Minister of Justice, Ziad Al Tamimy, said, “The Human Rights National Action Plan further underlines the human rights commitments of the Government and provides a five-year roadmap for all the ministries and state institutions responsible for the protection of human rights in Iraq.” In her remarks welcoming the adoption and launch of Human Rights National Action Plan, the Chief of UNAMI’s Human Rights Office and Representative of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms. Danielle Bell, stated: “The need for strong and coherent action on human rights is more essential than ever. The Human Rights National Action Plan provides a solid framework for the legislative, policy and procedural reforms which can prevent human rights violations in the future and which will make a difference to the lives of all Iraqis” The Human Rights National Action Plan was presented at the event, followed by an interactive discussion among the participants. While participants strongly supported the launch of the Human Rights Nations Action Plan, they emphasized the criticality of implementation, noting that periodic assessment meetings and reports could help gauge the implementation status of the Plan. The event was attended by 40 participants (21 men and 19 women), including government officials, Advisors to the Iraqi President, Members of Parliament, representatives of EU Advisory Mission in Iraq and non-Governmental organizations. The full text of the remarks made by Chief, Human Rights Office, Ms Danielle Bell are available here

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20 September 2021

Iraq’s political parties and independent candidates sign Electoral Code of Conduct as campaigns intensify

20 September 2021 – Political parties and independent candidates participating in the 10 October elections today signed the Electoral Code of Conduct in all of Iraq’s 18 governorates and the capital Baghdad. The signings, which took place in the presence of officials from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), personnel from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) and other independent observers, are part of efforts by IHEC and the United Nations to minimize intolerance, violence, and hate speech, during both campaigning and voting periods. All concerned actors and parties are expected to abide by the Electoral Code of Conduct, a moral political agreement on the rules to be followed by political parties and their supporters during the electoral process. The goal is to maintain the legality, integrity and appropriate implementation of the process. The Electoral Code of Conduct is intended to, among other things, help increase confidence in the electoral process, prevent conflicts and enhance popular support for the Iraqi elections. Party signatories to the Electoral Code of Conduct are expected to respect the right and freedom of all other parties to campaign and spread their political ideologies and principles without intimidation or fear from any other party. The Electoral Code of Conduct also requires all signatories to respect the freedom of journalists and the media and to support Iraqi women and minorities participating and standing as candidates in the elections. Signatory parties are expected to help create a safe electoral environment during the campaigning, poling, vote counting and post-election phases. All campaign activities must end 24 hours prior to the opening of the polls. The Electoral Code of Conduct notes that strict punitive measures will be taken against violating parties, alliances or candidates, in accordance with the applicable laws, regulations and instructions. For the 10 October elections, IHEC’s Board of Commissioners approved 3,249 candidates, including 951 women, to contest 329 seats in the Iraqi Council of Representatives – 320 of which are distributed among the governorates within 83 constituencies. Those constituencies have been defined under the new electoral system. The remaining 9 seats are reserved for minorities. IHEC registered over 25 million Iraqis, 48.6% of them women, to vote in the 10 October elections. The United Nations will continue to advise and assist IHEC on the planning and holding of free and fair Iraqi-led and Iraqi-owned elections. Compared to years past, the UN is deploying a much bigger team to support the elections. This is one of the UN’s largest electoral technical assistance projects worldwide, with five times as many UN personnel as in the 2018 Iraqi elections. Meanwhile, 130 additional international experts are in the process of being deployed to Iraq to monitor in advance of – and on – Election Day. They come with around 600 supporting staff. By Solomon Moriba, Communication Advisor, Office of Electoral Assistance, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

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Press Release

24 September 2021

Milestone achieved for developing poultry and tomato sector strategies in Iraq

National consultations to support the process of sustainable and inclusive development in the poultry and tomato value chains in Iraq, were held in Baghdad on 13 September 2021.
These national consultations are a milestone towards the elaboration of national strategies for the poultry and tomato sectors. Building on a series of more than 20 consultations and assessments at the district and governorate levels with public and private sector stakeholders, domestic market research analysis and the results of implementation of surveys to over 600 farmers and SMEs, the national consultations are instrumental in elaborating strategies for the two sectors. The strategy design process will produce two endorsed, coherent and comprehensive documents that will serve as a compass for the government, private sector and development partners to improve the competitiveness of farmers and small and medium enterprises in these two sectors, contributing to the national pathway towards sustainable food systems, inclusive growth and job creation for Iraq citizens. Aligned with national planning frameworks, the strategies will specify clear priorities eventually producing a concrete five-year plan of action (2022-2026) that will not only define roles for implementing institutions but also provide an implementation management framework. Public sector and private sector representatives, civil society and development partners participated in the consultation sessions. They discussed the current situation and the future opportunities in developing the tomato and poultry value chains. The sessions provided a platform for engaging into realistic priority setting based on understanding market trends and requirements, and for defining realistic and achievable plans for action for expanding sector performance.

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Press Release

22 September 2021

The KRG Minister of Interior and UNHCR Lay the Foundation Stone of the New Registration Centre in Baharka

His Excellency, Reber Ahmed, KRG Minister of Interior, his Excellency, Omed Khoshnaw, the Governor of Erbil and Ms. Nicole Epting, UNHCR Representative a.i., together laid the foundation stone for the new registration centre that will serve and benefit thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers residing in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas in Erbil Governorate. In addition to UNHCR registration offices, the centre will house governmental departments that are an integral part of the registration process, allowing the whole process to be completed in one visit. The centre will function as a one-stop-shop for protection and assistance services for refugees and asylum-seekers while also providing counselling and support to internally displaced persons living in Erbil. The construction of the registration centre is funded through a generous contribution by The Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED). Over the past five years, KFAED has contributed more than USD 12.5 Million to help improve living conditions and increase access to services for Syrian refugees in Iraq by supporting shelter construction, road rehabilitation, installation of solar streetlights, and water infrastructure projects. “The new centre will facilitate access to registration services for refugees and asylum-seekers who live in Erbil Governorate, for whom registration is essential as a basis for protection and the first step to accessing basic services, including education, livelihoods, and healthcare,” said Nicole Epting. “The Kurdistan region has faced several crises during the past years, including the COVID 19 pandemic. I thank the state of Kuwait for supporting this important project and I take this opportunity to appreciate the support of UNHCR and also call for the international community to continue to assist the KRG in addressing the needs of refugees and internally displaced,” said Reber Ahmed, KRG Minister of Interior. UNHCR currently runs three registration centres in the KRI, supporting over 263,000 refugees and asylum-seekers. Additional resources: Photos available here. Video available here.

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Press Release

21 September 2021

The Government of Iraq, UNICEF, WFP and ILO partner to reform social protection with support from the European Union

Baghdad, 21 September 2021 – A new Social Protection Programme was launched today by the Ministry of Planning, the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and the Ministry of Trade of Iraq, along with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the International Labour Organization (ILO), to reform the social protection system and the effectiveness of its response to ongoing socio-economic shocks. The European Union (EU) has contributed 30 million euro towards the new four-year Social Protection Programme, which aims to build a sustainable and more inclusive system for those in need. The Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and Ministry of Trade, lead work on the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the COVID-19 Response Plan as well as reforms at the programme implementation level, focusing on Social Safety Nets, the Public Distribution System for food rations (PDS) and Social Security. To support these efforts, UNICEF, ILO and WFP worked closely with the three Ministries to develop a Joint Programme to accelerate social protection reform. Under this programme, first and largest of its kind in Iraq, UNICEF, ILO, and WFP will support the Ministries over 2021-2025 to build Iraq’s strategy for social protection and implement a reform roadmap, roll-out and scale up child-focused and employment-related social protection schemes, and build up a unified national registry underpinned by the PDS. The Social Protection Programme also aims to develop a national strategy and roadmap to expand social security coverage to include informal workers, while supporting the most vulnerable workers in the informal economy and alleviating the effects of COVID-19. The programme hopes to achieve comprehensive, efficient, and effective social protection coverage of vulnerable groups and to offer pathways for vulnerable people for human development, economic inclusion, and enhanced resilience by 2025. The most vulnerable groups prioritized include children, youth, women, the elderly, people with disabilities, displaced persons and workers in the informal sector. Cash transfer programmes for children and pregnant women are also being developed, with linkages to key services. Underpinning all initiatives is the digitalisation of the PDS, which is enabling better citizen data systems and the establishment of a single registry for eligible people. “We are grateful for the support from the EU, UNICEF, WFP and ILO. Our Ministries are committed to these reforms, and we will work together to improve the lives of the most vulnerable Iraqis under this programme,” said the representatives of the three Ministries Mr. Maher Johan, Ms. Abeer AlChalabi and Mr. Waleed Al-Mosawi, in a joint statement. “The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant loss of jobs and income, making it even more difficult for vulnerable families to afford basic needs such as food and to access health care, education and vital public services, leading to further risks of exclusion. Reforming social protection helps address poverty and vulnerability, as well as support people during shocks, from childhood to old age,” said UNICEF Iraq Representative Sheema Sen Gupta, WFP Iraq Representative Ally-Raza Qureshi, ILO Country Coordinator in Iraq Maha Kattaa, and EU Ambassador to Iraq Ville Varjola, in a joint statement. The three UN agencies will support the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and Ministry of Trade in evidence generation including assessment and mapping of social protection, public expenditure review of government spending on social protection, and analysis of multidimensional poverty, food insecurity, the labour force, and household access to social protection. The Social Protection Programme therefore creates the base to build an evidence-based approach to reforming social protection, that is supported by policies, enhanced institutional capacities, and effective coordination. Such reforms are especially vital in the context of the pandemic.

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Press Release

20 September 2021

First steering committee meeting of SAAVI project held in Baghdad

The steering committee is led by the Ministry of Planning and co-chaired by the European Union Delegation. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade will chair Technical Working Groups, respectively on agribusiness development and on trade policy.
The meeting reviewed the progress of ongoing project activities and discussed ways for timely implementation of future SAAVI initiatives. Project objectives and activities with focus on the work plan and priorities for 2022 were also examined in detail.
This was also an opportunity for obtaining feedback from the Iraqi government on the progress to ensure that the project catered to the immediate national development priorities.
The steering committee was held at the Ministry of Planning premises in Baghdad and chaired by Dr. Saher Abdulkhaduim Mahdi.
Eric Buchot, who leads the International Trade Centre project in Iraq said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to hear from representatives of the government and of the private sector. The insights received today will help us and our partners in ensuring that our strategic approach caters to the most immediate needs of the agriculture sector and those associated with it.”
Barbara Egger, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation, said “The EU is committed to supporting efforts to increase economic opportunities across Iraq. Agriculture value chains have the potential to provide decent work to many young Iraqis, men and women. At the same time, the project will support the Iraqi government as it develops its trade policy and progresses towards the country’s accession to WTO, which is a key component of economic development and job creation. I am therefore pleased that ITC is working closely with the Government while also coordinating with partners and the private sector.” The meeting endorsed the project governance structure, as well as the work plan for the upcoming year. PSC meetings will be held annually.
Project steering committee members expressed their strong commitment to support the project and thanked the European Union for their ongoing support to private sector development and job creation.
All members renewed their commitment to contribute to the discussions and agreed that cooperation and coordination among all actors are key for successful project implementation.
SAAVI contributes to inclusive economic growth and job creation, particularly for youth in Iraq, by improving the country's agriculture competitiveness and supporting trade development.
The project is funded by the European Union (EU) and forms part of the overall EU Special Measure 2019 for Iraq which aims at supporting stabilization and governance through building the capacities of key Iraqi institutions to deliver public services, as well as sustainable job creation through the development of human capital and the private sector.
As such, SAAVI is fully aligned with the activities of FAO, IOM, ILO, UNESCO, and GIZ in the domain of private sector engagement and agricultural development.

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