Iraq | Closing remarks by UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance Senior Legal Adviser, Hugo Kacic, at the IHEC and UNAMI lessons learned workshop

Sulaymania, 30 March 2022

Dear Chairman, Commissioners and IHEC Colleagues, UNAMI Colleagues, dear guests,

We are gathering at the end of an important milestone in our election process. 2021 was a challenging year for the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), its leadership and staff. But, with steady and patient steps, it has managed to deliver successful and well-run elections.

On the way, however, there were some challenges, that, looking back, could have been approached differently. Whether the technical aspect of the IHEC approach could have been improved is difficult to say but most likely yes, it could!

This Lessons Learnt workshop was, we hope, a deep and honest review exercise of the whole 2021 election process. Over these last few days, IHEC colleagues have engaged in earnest to identify those practices that went well, those that were not while providing recommendations on future improvements.

IHEC with their OEA colleagues gathered to exchange, to listen, discuss and to really share our experiences and to learn from each other the lessons for the future! We did this by examining how we approached the challenges of running this election and reassessed the technical process and, with a critical but fair approach, we recorded and reinforced those aspects that worked well. At the same time, we looked, honestly and openly, at areas and activities where IHEC could have performed better.

But the challenge remains! And this challenge is how to apply the lessons learnt that we have identified here to improve in the future. Politics of Iraq are complicated and, in turn, the work of IHEC will always remain under the umbrella of the politics, voters and population in general. There is much groundwork to be done to address the legal impediments that will lay the foundations for the future electoral operations.

Dear Chairman, Commissioners and IHEC colleagues, I would like to use this opportunity to reconfirm that under the leadership of the SRSG, UNAMI will continue to support IHEC as it is stipulated in its mandate.

Once again, on behalf of the OEA Director and staff, OEA is looking forward to support IHEC and in its continuous engagement with the FSC, EJP, CoR and other national institutions and as well as in the implementation of these Lessons Learnt.

Before closing I would like to also acknowledge the support of the international community and donor countries, whose support allowed us to gather at this venue for this exercise.

I thank everyone for your contributions, wishing each of you a safe travel back to your homes.

I wish to thank you, Chairman and your staff, for a successful workshop. OEA will continue to be with you along the way! Job well done.

Thank you!