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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Publication

06 September 2021

United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework IRAQ (UNSDCF)

For decades, Iraq has suffered political instability caused by armed conflict, waves of internal displacement, and the resulting socio‐economic crises. The decline in the oil prices, on which the Government2is heavily dependent, the proliferation of armed actors operating outside State control, and the COVID‐19 pandemic exacerbated existing vulnerabilities. The youth popular uprisings, which started in October 2019, called for improved governance system, meaningful political reforms, economic growth, accountable political institutions and job opportunities.

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Speech

09 April 2022

Closing ceremony | Thematic Round Tables on Prosecution, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (PRR) Practices, SRSG Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert Keynote Address

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. In the past two months, a series of roundtables between the Government of Iraq and the United Nations were organised to enable us to collectively address the many critical and sensitive questions surrounding the return, rehabilitation, reintegration and, where necessary, the prosecution, of individuals displaced in North-eastern Syria. There is no denying it: this is a uniquely challenging context. And while certain developments deserve our full commendation and support, others are deeply preoccupying - reminding us that time is of the essence. Reminding us that decisive, collective action is urgently needed. Ladies and gentlemen, it is difficult to overstate the complexity of the task at hand for Iraq: in al-Hol Camp, mere hours from the Iraqi border, nearly 30,000 Iraqis with varying degrees of association to ISIL ¬— including victims of ISIL, and others with no association at all— remain in limbo. Their humanitarian and security conditions, already precarious, have deteriorated over the past 18 months. Recent deadly clashes represent only the latest examples of a steady wave of violence in the camp since late 2020. It is also difficult to overstate the youth of this population: 3 out of 5 residents of al-Hol are under 17; one in 5 is under 5 years of age. These innocent children have only ever known this harsh environment; many of them are being denied the most basic rights, including education. Now, over the past 3 years, you’ve heard me repeat that the legacy of yesterday’s fight against ISIL could very easily turn into tomorrow’s war, that we should not wait for young children to become of age in a camp like al-Hol. These children find themselves at risk of forced recruitment and exposure to violent extremism. Fact is, the current situation is not sustainable. And keeping people indefinitely in the restricted and poor conditions of these camps ultimately creates greater protection and security risks than taking them back in a controlled manner. In other words: a continued status quo is - without a doubt - the riskiest option. Iraq’s decision to resume voluntary returns in early 2021 is therefore particularly welcome. In fact, in terms of proactively taking steps to fulfil its obligations to repatriate its nationals, Iraq has set an example on the global stage. Some 450 families, or nearly 1,800 individuals, have been repatriated since May 2021. And as thousands of Iraqis are still out there, the Iraqi authorities do realize that they cannot stop there. The United Nations is particularly appreciative of Iraq’s intention to not only continue but also to accelerate repatriations. And yes, we are ready to continue providing the required post-return humanitarian, protection and reintegration assistance. And we truly hope that Member States and donors are with us on this. Definitely worth mentioning here is the fact that this initial success is the product of robust whole-of-government coordination and cooperation. Prime Minister al-Kadhimi and National Security Advisor al-Araji have been highly instrumental in ensuring that a wide array of ministries and institutions deliver concerted efforts towards a shared goal. And of course, the Ministry of Migration and Displacement also deserves recognition for its role in managing the Jeddah 1 Centre: the ministry manages the centre, with UN agencies and their national and international partners supporting with healthcare, including mental health and psychosocial support, child protection, legal assistance, education, food security, and livelihood services. In other words: it is not only a whole of government, but also a whole of UN effort, including IOM, UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO, and UNFPA, and our many partners Ladies and gentlemen, Engaging directly with returnees, our agencies have observed first-hand their relief at having left behind the hellish conditions of al-Hol in returning to Iraq. However, these returnees continue to be greatly concerned about the safety of their relatives who remain at al-Hol: continued efforts to prevent family separations are critical and appreciated, despite the enormously challenging operational conditions in northeast Syria. Returnees in Jeddah 1 are also anxious about their own futures, eager to move on to their areas of origin or relocate elsewhere in Iraq. Nearly 130 families or 500 individuals have now departed Jeddah 1 to their areas of origin or a third location. Crucially, a Visitor’s Centre has been established to enable residents of Jeddah 1 to meet with their relatives on a regular basis. While this is most welcome, going forward, it will be important to establish benchmarks and reduce the transit time as much as possible. Admittedly, significant challenges remain even after families depart Jeddah 1: in some cases, community members in areas of origin have refused to accept returnees; in other cases, families have been forced to relocate due to damaged or destroyed housing, lack of services, or lack of access to livelihoods. Hence, closer cooperation between the government and the UN will prove essential to ensure that reintegration needs, including community acceptance, are assessed prior to departure from Jeddah 1. The incremental approach - followed thus far - has allowed the Government of Iraq and the UN to identify challenges and solutions, improving the process over time. But as we move forward, and returnee profiles become more complex, new and thorny challenges will undoubtedly arise. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is why it is so important to continue and expand our dialogue with the government on advancing a rights-based approach that of course provides accountability for individuals who have committed crimes but also ensures holistic reintegration support. Building on these recent discussions and round tables, expanded UN support to the Government of Iraq will be guided by the Global Framework for the provision of “whole of UN” support to the return of third country nationals from Iraq / Syria. For those not familiar with this Global Framework: it lays out a collaborative approach with governments and pooled funding mechanisms under which the UN can support Member States on the protection, repatriation, prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration of returnees from Syria, who may have alleged or actual links or family ties to designated terrorist groups. Using this Global Framework, the UN and the Government of Iraq, building on years of partnership in addressing the many post-ISIL challenges, can jointly identify gaps and needs, and prioritize areas of multilateral support, leveraging specific mandates within the UN family. And importantly, having played an exemplary leadership role in many respects so far, the Government of Iraq can greatly contribute to the global understanding of contemporary prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration questions. Ladies and gentlemen, in closing: Transnational challenges call for transnational solutions, and the United Nations looks forward to our continued partnership with the Government of Iraq in shaping and implementing these solutions for the greater global good. Let’s face it: al-Hol is a ticking time bomb. If it goes off, it will impact not only the region but also far beyond. Defusing it should be our collective priority. Thank you.

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Story

25 January 2022

Weaving for a new Iraq: Durable solutions for women’s livelihood in Kirkuk

The Director of the Carpet Factory briefed about the latest innovative partnership with UN-Women entitled: Women’s Leadership, Empowerment, Access and Protection (LEAP II). This project is implemented by the Women Leadership Institute with generous funding provided by the Government of Japan. The traditional art of carpet-weaving is recognized as an intangible cultural heritage. Hand-woven carpets are more expensive, but of higher quality than mass-produced ones. Director Muhanad demonstrated this by showing the visiting delegation a hand-woven rug and that looked fabulous, and then revealed…that it was over 100 years old! By comparison, a machine-woven rug already showed signs of wear and tear after just 2 years of use. UN-Women is supporting the Kirkuk Carpet Factory through its innovative LEAP II project modality. This allows 20 young apprentices to learn the ancient art of carpet weaving from master-weavers. The project involves skills-transfer, heritage preservation, vocational training and livelihoods generation. The apprentices were selected from among the rich tapestry of different ethnic communities, IDPs and people with disabilities in Kirkuk. Ms. Hanim, one of the most talented apprentice-weavers is deaf. Yet this is not a handicap at all! Ms. Hanim weaves beautiful, complex 300-knot creations without losing her laser-sharp focus on the design. The Director noted that he received over 200 applications and competition for the 20 available slots was fierce. Interestingly, despite the high pay and good working conditions, no men applied for the apprenticeship programme. The preservation of cultural heritage mixed with marketing and design could form the basis of an excellent livelihood project for the returnee community. Kirkuk would like to see more of these kinds of innovative vocation-apprenticeship programmes for women in Kirkuk, particularly in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) field. Director Muhaned explained that until the 1990s, Iraq produced the most beautiful, hand-woven carpets that were much prized by foreign dignitaries and businessmen. Even Turkish traders bought carpets in Iraq at the time. Unfortunately, decades of sanctions and civil war have decimated the Iraqi carpet trade. From the 7 officially licensed state companies, only the ones in Kirkuk, Baghdad and Babylon are still left. Currently, the State Company for Hand-Woven Carpets falls under the Ministry for Industry and Minerals, which is not very interested in promoting and marketing Mesopotamian carpets as an international brand. It was suggested that perhaps hand-made carpet workshops might be better regulated under the Ministry of Culture, so that the link with the UNESCO intangible heritage can be made. That way, Iraqi carpets can be marketed as cultural artifacts, both at home and abroad. A suggestion that could help in this regard would be for the Kirkuk Carpet Factory to expand their production with an internet-based app that could allow customers (from all over the world) to upload a picture or design that they wish to turn into a carpet, hand-made and ready-to-order within 15 days. Regrettably, no tourist agencies or freight shipping companies operate in Kirkuk yet to make these kinds of entrepreneurial initiatives possible, and many beautiful hand-woven carpets go unsold. By: Martijn Dalhuijsen, UNAMI Photos: Harith Al-Obaidi, UNAMI

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Story

02 January 2022

Strengthening IDP-owned Businesses and Upscaling a Workforce through Entrepreneurial Training

Thanks to the generous support of the Japanese Government, UNIDO has organized Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) trainings at the Shariya and Kabarto IDP Camps, aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and upscaling a workforce. The ten-day, 65-hour entrepreneurship training programme collaborates with 43 existing micro businesses located within the Camps and strives to make these businesses more sustainable and resilient, especially in light of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The training, which includes sessions such as marketing, management and budgeting, is designed to help the IDPs leverage their past career experiences, improve upon existing management skills and acquire new knowledge in order to sustain and improve their micro businesses. Participants and collaborating entrepreneurs receive asset support in the form of equipment, tools and supplies to strengthen their enterprises towards success. Khalaf Murad Ilyas, originally from a village near Sinjar town, Nineveh Governorate, participated in the programme as a means of expanding the barber business he has established in the Camp. Back home in his village, Khalaf was involved in his family’s small barbershop and worked alongside his father and uncle. Having only finished primary school, Khalaf says that, prior to the programme, he had not been exposed to skills like developing a business plan, and setting goals for business expansion. “I learned how to manage my time and how to formulate a vision for the future, “Khalaf says of his experiences in the programme. “I plan to develop my business to have a good income to improve the situation of my family.” Nada Yusif Kalo, another programme participant, operates a small sewing shop in Kabarto IDP Camp. A divorcee with 4 children to support, Nada has been displaced since 2014. Nada worked as a seamstress at a clothing factory in Mosul for five years, before deciding to go into business for herself. Nada opened a small workshop at her home in Mosul after making an agreement with the factory who had employed her—taking in outsourced work from the factory, in addition to growing her own customer base. Using credits and loans, Nada had made significant investments in her home-based business until Mosul fell into the hands of ISIS, forcing her with her family to flee and losing all her equipment to looting. After being in the camp, she had to start work again to secure income for her children. She opened a small shop with simple equipment. The skill and experience she had could secure her some income. “There are many skills that I lacked and did not have any idea on those I learned from the training such as, managing your business, advertising and promoting of your products, and also how to calculate profit and loss. These are crucial to the development of one’s business,” Nada says. Nada says that her business felt the impact of the Covid-19 crisis, as fewer social gatherings equated to less need for new clothing. Despite this, she is beginning to see her business return, thanks to vaccines and bettering mitigation efforts. Thanks to the support of UNIDO, she intends to expand her business, and serve as a training vehicle for other women in need of skills training to gain independence and escape poverty. “If you do not think of others you cannot think of yourself,” Nada says.

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Story

20 April 2022

2021 Country Annual Results Report

Twenty-Six UN agencies, funds and programmes comprise the United Nations Country Team in Iraq, chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, the designated representative of the UN Secretary General for development operations in the country. 2021 Country Annual Results Report

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Story

05 April 2022

UNAMI HRO and INSM facilitate global brown bag discussion on digital rights and digital security (UNAMI)

Baghdad, 5 April 2022 - UNAMI’s Human Rights Office in cooperation with the Iraqi Network for Social Media (INSM), facilitated today a global “brown bag” discussion on digital rights and digital security for UN human rights presences around the world. From December 2021 to March 2022, UNAMI’s Human Rights Office in cooperation with INSM implemented a cutting-edge project to enhance the online protection of Iraqi human rights defenders, bloggers, journalists and activists through a series of trainings on digital rights and online security, attended by approximately 200 participants. This was accompanied by the provision of a digital security guide, a digital help desk, and tailor-made digital security assessments for Iraqi NGOs. Moreover, the project provided a platform for dialogue between Iraqi authorities, private companies, and civil society representatives, outlining steps to strengthen rights in the online space. The implementation of this project was met with enormous interest from civil society, given the increasing role cyberspace plays in the monitoring, reporting and advocacy of human rights, while recognizing the critical need to mitigate online risks, improve data protection and online communication, and adopt digital security policies. UNAMI HRO and INSM presented lessons learnt and outlined steps on how to expand activities on digital rights in Iraq. 21 participants from various UN field missions and OHCHR country offices joined the meeting, reflecting on their own experiences and highlighting the criticality of the fast-evolving field of digital security for the protection and promotion of human rights.

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Story

02 April 2022

IHEC and UNAMI conclude lessons learned workshop

31 March 2022 - The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) concluded a four-day general lessons learned workshop. Throughout the workshop, which was held in Sulaymaniyah from 27-30 March, IHEC Board of Commissioners (BoC) and senior leadership together with senior officials from the UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance (OEA) brainstormed on the challenges and lessons learned from the 2021 Council of Representatives (CoR) elections and agreed upon recommendations to turn weaknesses into strengths to further improve Iraq’s electoral processes. Judge Jalil Adnan Khalaf, IHEC Chairman, noted that “After the successful implementation of 2021 Council of Representatives elections, IHEC has made itself ready to systematically assess its performance and identify areas for improvement throughout the institution. The outcomes of this workshop will set the ground for developing a comprehensive capacity building plan with the support of UNAMI. I extend my gratitude to UNAMI for its continued support”. The workshop covered key thematic areas including legal, operational planning, public outreach and media, voter registration, training and procedures, procurement and logistics, field coordination, security coordination and election information and results managements. The exercise also provided an opportunity for a participatory, inclusive, and bottom-up institutional approach to post-election reflections and evaluations, contributing to the development of an institutional culture where dialogue and contributions are incentivized and promoted. UNAMI OEA Senior Election Operations Adviser, Jawed Habibi, said that “The 2021 Council of Representatives election was an achievement for Iraq that was successfully conducted under leadership of IHEC with the technical assistance of UNAMI mandated by the UN Security Council. Despite this success, this enormous and complex process requires continuous improvement. I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm UNAMI's full commitment in supporting IHEC in the execution of the recommendations of the lessons learned workshop starting with a comprehensive capacity building needs assessment to move forward in enhancing the institution’s technical preparedness under the lines of UNAMI’s mandate”. In closing remarks at the conclusion of the lessons learned workshop, UNAMI OEA Senior Legal Adviser, Hugo Kacic, said that “IHEC and OEA colleagues gathered to exchange, to listen, discuss and to learn from each other. We documented and highlighted those aspects that worked well. At the same time, we honestly looked at areas and activities where IHEC could have performed better. The challenge remains. And this challenge is to how to apply the lessons learned that we have identified here to improve in the future. I would like to use this opportunity to re-confirm that under the leadership of the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, UNAMI will continue to support IHEC as it is stipulated in its mandate.”

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Story

30 March 2022

United Nations in Iraq trained over 500 staff members on PSEA

SEA committed by aid workers betrays the core values and principles of humanitarian action and the fundamental to do no harm. SEA destroys the trust communities have in the humanitarian and development sector, and it is a catastrophic failure to protect the people aid workers are obliged to serve. It is important to acknowledge that it takes a lot of courage for SEA victims (survivors) to come forward and report sexual exploitation and abuse particularly in the face of an extreme power imbalance. Evidence shows that the number of reported cases represents a small percentage of those that occur. Even when a case is reported, survivor(s), especially in humanitarian context, face significant barriers to receiving support and protection. Often the perpetrators of SEA are not held accountable for their action. The United Nations Secretary-General, in his March 2017 Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) strategy, prioritizes the rights and dignity of victims; ending impunity through strengthened reporting and investigations, including clarifying limitations on the United Nations to achieve criminal accountability; engaging with civil society and external partners; and improving strategic communication for education and transparency. Against the above background, the United Nations in Iraq, through the PSEA Coordinator attached to the Office of the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq, who is also the Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Coordinator, rolled out a series of PSEA training and awareness raising sessions for UN and non-UN personnel, including the United Nations Guard Unit that is comprised of Fijian Armed Forces staff. In total about 533 personnel were trained on PSEA. The topics covered in the training included concepts that are related to PSEA, the UN zero tolerance policy on SEA, how to serve with pride, the UN Secretary-General’s six core principles, how SEA manifests itself in Iraq, what is acceptable and unacceptable behavior of aid workers, the consequence of SEA, victim support services, how to report misconduct, the whistle blower policies, the role(s) of staff and managers on SEA, investigation processes and sanctions. By Robert Basil, PSEA Coordinator and Adviser, Office of DSRSG/RC/HC for Iraq

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Press Release

22 April 2022

On “Earth Day”, UN in Iraq Renews Commitment to Joint Climate Action

Anchored under the 2022 theme “Invest in our Planet”, this day is a reminder to redirect all our attention to creating a 21st century that prioritizes the health of our planet and all species including our own. Our choices today can either accelerate the speed of destruction of the environment or help preserve it and protect our health, our families, and our livelihoods. Climate change and extreme weather events, man-made changes to nature, and protracted conflicts that disrupt biodiversity are destroying the planet we are leaving to future generations. Restoring our damaged ecosystems will help to end poverty, combat climate change, and ultimately achieve the sustainable development goals. Everyone should play a part in this, if we are to succeed. In Iraq, the environmental situation has been subject to a number of converging pressures, ranging from poor water quality, deforestation and soil salinity to air pollution, conflict and land-use change, all of which have led to the deterioration of key ecosystems, climate change impacts, and water shortages. Nevertheless, protecting the earth through policies for environmental action has become a top priority in Iraq. On 22 March 2022, the first protected area in Iraq was declared by the Ministry of Environment and UNEP, home to 230 plant species, of which a large number are endangered. The protection of this reserve will help mitigate extreme weather events, enhance carbon storage, and provide space for plants and animals to reproduce and adapt to the changing climate. The UN is supporting Iraq in mitigating and adapting to climate change, through the design of sustainable projects that focus on supporting small and medium businesses, livelihoods and development; investments in efficient water and wastewater infrastructure; irrigation and the management of water consumption; as well as the use of renewable energy such as solar power. The UN is also working with the government on training, skills development and capacity strengthening to tackle climate change. Advocacy efforts are raising public awareness on the issues around water consumption and sustainable water management. Ecosystems support all life on Earth. The healthier our ecosystems, the healthier the planet - and its people. For Earth Day 2022, we need to act boldly to restore our damaged ecosystems. It’s going to take private sector, entrepreneurs, governments, and citizens — it is everyone’s business! Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for Iraq Sami Dimassi, UNEP Representative and Regional Director for West Asia Dr. Salah ElHajj Hassan, FAO Representative in Iraq Ally Raza Qureshi, WFP Iraq Representative Zena Ali Ahmad, UNDP Resident Representative Sheema SenGupta, UNICEF Iraq Representative Giorgi Gigauri, IOM Iraq Chief of Mission Eric Buchot, ITC Head of Country Programme Jean-Nicolas Beuze, UNHCR Iraq Representative Himyar Abdulmoghni - UNFPA Iraq Deputy Representative

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Press Release

21 April 2022

UN Women and WFP join forces to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment in Iraq

In collaboration with the Government of Iraq, UN Women and WFP’s joint work will leverage gender-transformative programme opportunities and will focus on women’s leadership, economic empowerment, social protection, resilience and livelihoods with regards to the impact of climate change, ending violence against women and girls, Women Peace and Security (WPS), gender and humanitarian development peace actions, food security and nutrition, and school-based programming. “We thank WFP for this collaboration and hope that this agreement will cement the important work of UN Women and WFP in ensuring that the needs of women, men, girls and boys are met,” said Dina Zorba, UN Women Representative to Iraq and Yemen. “By incorporating a gender-inclusive lens in the implementation of projects, this will contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG5) on Gender Equality.” “We value this partnership and will exchange technical expertise plus develop research with UN Women, to expand our support for the Government of Iraq to incorporate a gender perspective to address the needs of women and girls,” said Ally Raza Qureshi, WFP Iraq Representative. “We will respond to climate change and work to have an impact on gender mainstreaming at the national level through joint programmes, initiatives, advocacy and coordination.” The agreement also sets out terms by which equality and empowerment will be championed in strategic projects, including school-based programming addressing the complexity of requirements around girls’ education in Iraq and food security. Digital innovation for development will also be a parallel priority. UN Women and WFP are committed to promoting and advancing the agenda on gender equality and women empowerment by strengthening collaboration and coordination on joint activities, projects and programming. About UN Women UN Women is the United Nations entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women. A global champion for women and girls, UN Women was established to accelerate progress on meeting their needs worldwide. About WFP The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.

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Press Release

20 April 2022

FAO and the European Union Bring Back Joy and Happiness to Nineveh Women's Groups Amid the Holy Month of Ramadan and Easter Festivities

The equipment for milk collection and processing was made available to 4000 rural producers, thanks to a funding from the European Union and close collaboration of FAO with the Ministry of Agriculture within the project “Support to agriculture livelihoods of rural and peri-urban returnees and communities in Nineveh Governorate, Iraq”. This project is an integral part of a holistic strategy aimed at developing dairy, feed and fodder value chain initiated earlier by FAO in the country, which has achieved tangible results to date. During the distribution ceremony, FAO Representative in Iraq Dr. Salah ElHajj Hassan stated that the organization has already supported Women Groups and farmers with different equipment for collecting and processing milk, in total targeting 4,000 households, as well as the rehabilitation of 35 milk collection centers to support rural women. He added that this work has resulted in increasing the productivity and quality of dairy products, enabling their marketability, which has become well known with consumers over a comparatively short period. To further complement the production cycle, FAO is distributing additional equipment for the benefit of 750 women each representing a household and 150 Women Groups. The FAO Representative concluded by expressing his thanks and appreciation for the exceptional efforts and daily follow-up made by the project team, the extension staff of the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate, the Ministry of Agriculture and to the European Union for their continuous support. In turn, the Head of Nineveh Agriculture Directorate Dr. Rabie Yousef Soran, praised the joint cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and FAO and emphasized the pioneering efforts made by FAO in cooperation with the Nineveh Agriculture Directorate, and concluded that the remarkable achievements covered a large segment of farmers in Nineveh Governorate, especially displaced farmers and returnees. The FAO Livestock Expert Dr. Chedly Kayouli said that the beneficiaries of today’s ceremony have been trained beforehand, the practical training on milk collection and processing was essential while providing a platform for experience and knowledge sharing among farmers. In addition to building their individual capacities, participants also learned on working in teams within their Women Groups. The above coupled with exchange of skills and knowledge resulted in producing new types of domestic cheese for the first time in Nineveh and Iraq. These new varieties of cheese along with other dairy products benefited from improved technological process have been introduced to local markets stretching even beyond Nineveh governorate due to the quality that can compete with imported analogies. He added that during the blessed month of Ramadan and the Easter holidays, FAO today continues to spread joy and happiness to Women Groups in Nineveh by providing marketing equipment to facilitate their production, as well as improving opportunities for marketing their products and ultimately their livelihood conditions. At the end of the ceremony, one of the project beneficiaries, Ms. Huda Khaled, spoke on behalf of all beneficiaries and pointed out the great role of FAO in improving livelihoods in Nineveh Governorate, and thus thanking both FAO and the European Union.

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Press Release

14 April 2022

A new step towards gender equality in Iraq; Italy, UN Women, UNFPA collaborate on women and girls protection in Kurdistan

Building on existing structures and ongoing gender mainstreaming efforts, the new partnership will contribute to increasing access to quality gender-based violence protection services, such as mental health and psychosocial support, strengthening case management and referrals to other services upon survivors’ requests. Survivors of gender-based violence will have easier access to justice through endorsed practical standard operating procedures for legal and police actors. The project will strengthen the capacity of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, the Kurdistan High Council of Women Affairs and the General Directorate of Combating Violence against Women to enhance the implementation of existing policies and services addressing violence against women and girls. Dina Zorba, UN Women Representative to Iraq & Yemen, expressed UN Women gratitude to the Government of Italy for their generous contribution to addressing gender-based violence, gender inequality and in improving access, safety, and wellbeing of women and girls survivors of gender-based violence in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. “Through this partnership, together with UNFPA, we intend to enhance coordination and support the KRI government in responding effectively to the protection needs of women and girls at risk and subject to gender-based violence.” “The Government of Italy fully supports the urgent need to provide assistance to women and girls victims of gender violence, through the restoration of basic services. Every effort should also be taken to reintegrate those victims within their communities and provide them with tangible support to rebuild their lives” said the Ambassador of Italy to Iraq—Maurizio Greganti. Since 2018, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) office in Amman has been responsible for implementing international cooperation initiatives in Iraq. Emilio Cabasino added “This project comes in line with the Italian Cooperation's aid priorities targeting the prevention and fight against gender-based violence in the Country, as it addresses immediate recovery and aims to improve accessibility to basic services”. Rita Columbia, UNFPA Representative to Iraq, commented on the contribution: “We are extremely grateful to the people and Government of Italy for their continuous commitment to eliminating gender-based violence especially in humanitarian settings and strengthening the capacities of those working to protect women’s rights and dignity. This support comes at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has increased cases of gender-based violence and immediate action at scale is required”. Khanzad Ahmad, Director of the High Council of Women and Development added that “It is necessary to thank the citizens of Kurdistan, the international community and UN agencies; without their generous support, it would have been difficult for the Kurdistan Regional Government to respond to the urgent requirements of the forcibly displaced people from the Iraqi provinces. On behalf of the Kurdistan Regional Government, I would like to also thank the people and government of Italy for providing continuous coordination and development to the Kurdistan Region and especially to women and girls who are victims of sexual based violence.” Yusra Mohsen, Director of the Department of Women Empowerment at the Council of Ministers, said “We value the initiative by the Italian Government and the Italian agency for development in launching this project which focuses on providing services to women and girls who have experienced violence in the Kurdistan Region. This project comes at a critical time as Kurdistan has recently hosted many Syrian refugees who have fled due to ISIS and are in need of humanitarian assistance and protection”. UN Women and UNFPA are committed to addressing gender-based violence through strengthening institutional capacities to scale up and improving multi-sectoral responses and support the Kurdistan Regional Government to advance its agenda on gender equality and empowerment of women.

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