Category: Unami

The UNAMI Human Rights Office (HRO), in cooperation with the Kurdistan Region’s Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy, organized a roundtable discussion in Erbil on civic space. The event held in Erbil brought together representatives from various security services with participants from civil society, including journalists, activists, and NGO representatives.

This initiative stems from a series of discussions with law enforcement officials that welcomed the opportunity to have a platform for dialogue between security forces and civil society to discuss matters of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Dindar Zebari, Coordinator for International Advocacy, underlined that “to ensure accountability for violations, media and journalists play an essential role in monitoring human rights. However, more needs to be done, including practical education and training for all, including law enforcement as well as media, to warrant the adherence to international human rights norms and standards”.

“The protection of civic space remains a priority area for UNAMI HRO. We stand ready to provide further assistance under the umbrella of the Kurdistan Regional Action Plan for Human Rights, and to deepen our cooperation with all relevant stakeholders to advance the protection of human rights”, said Florian Razesberger, Senior Human Rights Officer of UNAMI.

Participants discussed concrete measures and recommendations to strengthen the promotion and protection of civic space in the Kurdistan Region. As one participating journalist stated: “Events like these are opening a gateway between security forces and civil society. It is critical to understand each other’s situation and I hope that this dialogue can continue in the future”.

The event was in line with Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

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INTRODUCTION

UNAMI Office of Electoral Assistance, with the operational support of UNOPS, organized a workshop on 28-29 May in Baghdad, bringing together the representatives of the 27 civic society organizations (CSOs) from 15 governorates of Iraq (excluding the CSOs from the Kurdistan region) to discuss the opportunities, challenges and best practices in using the M&E tool. This report covers the workshop’s highlights and key insights and summarizes the discussions from the workshop.

The Office of the Electoral Assistance seeks to enhance and empower the participation of the CSOs in the electoral processes and provide tools to ensure the sustainability and accountability of the CSOs. With this workshop, OEA provided a platform for the CSOs to understand, reflect and focus on the critical role the M&E tool plays in its management.

Objectives set for the workshop were:

• Understanding the main components of the results-based management and M&E tool.

• Analyzing the factors impacting the sustainability of the M&E system.

• Exchanging practical knowledge for improving the M&E system in the context of electoral support.

The workshop opened with the introduction of the Office of the Electoral Assistance (OEA) team and other organizing partners of the event as well as the primary objectives of the workshop. The facilitator, Zarina Isakova, Consultant on M&E and CSO Engagement , elaborated on the workshop’s purpose for the civil society organizations in Iraq.

Three participants – Abbas Okab Ahmed from Baghdad Women Association, Ahmed Oday Suhail Alsalameen from Capacity Organization for Sustainable Development, Mohammed Hussein Ahmed from Al-Noor Foundation shared that they directly cover the M&E portfolio for their organizations.

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INTRODUCTION

Since its transition to democracy in 2003, Iraq has conducted numerous elections. Despite this, issues both political and technical have caused a downturn in voter participation, with many choosing to abstain from voting.

In the 2021 elections, even though only 42% of voters participated, the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) received commendation from electoral stakeholders for the transparency and integrity of the process. However, the subsequent delay in government formation diluted this success and adversely affected public opinion about the electoral institution and process.

In response to these challenges, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) Office of Electoral Assistance (OEA), with operational support from UNOPS, initiated a series of workshops. The primary goals of these workshops are to maintain the institutional independence of IHEC and to create a space for dialogue and collaboration between IHEC and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), which would allow them to support IHEC in promoting awareness of democratic processes that truly represent the people’s interests.

These dialogues present significant opportunities for both IHEC and the CSOs. IHEC can share its strategies, plans, and challenges experienced in past elections and lay out its expectations for CSOs in promoting voter education. On the other hand, CSOs have the opportunity to express their concerns and those of the voters while seeking ways to enhance IHEC’s voter education efforts.

After the first workshop held in Baghdad from April 26-27 that covered the central region and the second workshop held in Erbil May 29 – 30 covering the northen region of Iraq. The third workshop was held for enhancing the coordination between the IHEC and CSOs, to further promote effective voter education, civic awareness, and increase voter turnout. Participants from both sides exchanged their experiences, discussed the challenges and future collaboration strategies. Through discussions, participants emphasized achievements…

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On May 30, in a two-minute session, the UN Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq for another year until May 31, 2024. 

The head of UNAMI, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, was empowered to continue her efforts to provide advice, support and assistance to the government and people of Iraq by promoting national and community-level reconciliation; aiding the electoral process; facilitating regional dialogue between Iraq and its neighbors; protecting human rights; and promoting judicial and legal reforms.

UNAMI’s mandate refers only obliquely to the one overriding factor in Iraq’s situation – the influence of Iran. Iran dominates almost every aspect of the country’s governance, and Hennis-Plasschaert has told the Security Council that “pervasive corruption is a major root cause of Iraqi dysfunctionality.”

Although Iraq’s last election in October 2021 gave a majority of seats to the main anti-Iranian political bloc, that of Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, it did not give him victory. A long period of political stalemate followed the poll. No president or prime minister was appointed, and no government formed. 

Through poor judgment or bad advice, Sadr threw away his winning hand. A series of impulsive political decisions, some of which he probably regrets, finally handed power to the main pro-Iranian bloc, the Coordination Framework. Once the political logjam was broken, a Kurdish politician, Abdul Latif Rashid, was approved as president, and a pro-Iranian, Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, was appointed prime minister. 

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani holds a joint news conference with his Kurdish counterpart Masrour Barzani in Baghdad, Iraq April 4, 2023. (credit: IRAQI PRIME MINISTER MEDIA OFFICE/HANDOUT…

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Key Takeaways:

• Draft Budget Changes Raise Strong KRG Objections; Iraq’s Top Court Says Extending The Kurdistan Parliament’s Term Was Unconstitutional – On May 25, the parliamentary finance committee made several last minute amendments to the 2023-2025 federal budget bill. The changes, which require the KRG to compensate public servants for withholdings made during the region’s economic crisis that began in 2015, raised strong objections from the KRG. Regional PM Masrour Barzani accused the finance committee of trying to derail existing agreements with PM Sudani Sudani, which he said were “the foundation” of cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil. Barzani argued that the withholdings should be repaid by the federal government since they were the result of Baghdad’s decision to cut the KRG budget. The finance committee’s changes seem to have the support of the PUK. On May 30, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court ruled that a vote by the Kurdistan region’s parliament in October of last year to extend its term by one year was illegal, rendering the regional legislature’s fifth cycle “over” and any decisions it made after the extension “constitutionally invalid.” The case challenging the extension was filed at the time by the New Generation opposition party. In response to the Court’s decision, the ruling KDP issued a statement calling on all Kurdish parties to “cooperate to hold transparent and fair elections.” In other developments, on May 30, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2682, extending UNAMI’s mandate for one year. On May 30, Iraq’s Planning Ministry said that conducting a population census will not be possible this year, citing delays in approving the federal budget as the main reason. more…

• Independent Lawmaker’s Office Attacked Twice; Iraqi Officials In Tehran To Discuss Border Security And Drug Trafficking – On May 26, unidentified gunmen attacked…

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Key Takeaways:

• UNAMI Presents New Update On Iraq; Sudani Attends Arab League Summit; KDP-PUK Disputes Over Regional Elections Intensify – On May 18, UNAMI’s Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert delivered a new briefing to the Security Council that reaffirmed that Sudani’s government has “shown its resolve to tackle…pressing issues” facing Iraq, and commended its “express stance” against corruption” But the UN envoy cautioned that “the harsh reality is that there is no time to lose,” stressed the need to place the national interest above all else, and urged lawmakers to quickly approve a budget “needed to turn certain Government goals into realities.” Meanwhile, Plasschaert criticized the PUK and KDP for failing to make compromises and allowing their disagreement to drive the Kurdistan region “close to the brink.” Regarding climate and water, Plasschaert cautioned that, if current trends continue, Iraq will only be able to meet 15% of its water demands by 2035. On May 19, PM Sudani attended the 32nd Arab League summit meeting in Jeddah. In his address, Sudani welcomed the return of Syria to the League meetings, urged joint Arab action on drug trafficking, climate change, and water shortage, and called for developing the League into an integrated economic bloc. On May 22, the Kurdistan parliament held a chaotic session during which members of rival parties hurled furniture and water bottles at each other as disputes over the election system boiled over. PUK members accused the KDP of violating the bylaws by introducing a motion to empower the region’s existing election commission, which the PUK insists on replacing, to manage the next election. Speaker Rewaz Faeq, a PUK member, attempted to adjourn the meeting to block the motion, but the vote proceeded, and 58 lawmakers out of 111 voted in favor of extending the commission’s mandate. In response, Faeq…

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