Tag: Unami

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Distinguished participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am honored to be speaking at this event, which is coming during the preparations for the conduct of the Provincial Council elections planned for 18 December.

Let me start by stating what should be obvious, that is that women, like men, have equal rights and equal potential to contribute to social development and to political life. However, as we know, women face many challenges when it comes to their role in public life and politics, including participation in elections. It is important that we take the opportunity of the forthcoming elections to promote an environment in which women can achieve their potential and make their own specific contribution.

In this context, we commend the Government of Iraq for establishing the High Committee to Support Women’s Political Participation in the forthcoming Provincial Council elections.

We welcome the recent launching of the Committee’s workplan and look forward to working with the Committee in close coordination with the Independent High Electoral Commission, the institution tasked with overseeing elections which also undertakes initiatives to promote the role of women as candidates and voters.

We are pleased that the High Committee workplan is based on good practices and lessons learnt from the work of the previous committee set up for the October 2021 elections. Good practices include the establishment of hotlines by the Ministry of Interior to receive security-related complaints from women candidates, and the appointment by the Supreme Judicial Council of judicial investigators to examine complaints of violence against women candidates, online and offline.

Dear participants,

UNAMI’s work relating to the elections in Iraq is based on text of UN Security Council resolution 2682 (2023), adopted last May, which requires us to advise, support, and assist the Government of Iraq, the Independent High Electoral Commission and other…

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Prime Minister,

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

When remembering the untold suffering of the Yazidi community in the district of Sinjar, words come up short.

Too many lives were lost; too many families were ripped apart; and too many traumas were inflicted on people who did not deserve them.

Today, we are listening, and we will hear directly from brave voices and listen to their tragic accounts of what happened. Importantly, we will also listen to their perspectives on what must happen next.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have not forgotten – nor will we forget. To prevent such atrocities from reoccurring, undying memory is a collective duty.

But as I have said many times: this memory must not be static. The most powerful form of remembrance is the one that compels action.

In August 2019, I publicly shared my shock after one of my early visits to Sinjar. Five years after the horrific violence, which culminated in heinous crimes against the Yazidis, and many others, the need for action was still so clearly visible and so painfully palpable.

In other words: while the people of Sinjar urgently needed to rebuild their lives, they were facing immense obstacles. Obstacles due to discord on stable security structures and a unified administration.

In October 2020, so almost three years ago, agreement was reached between Baghdad and Erbil. At last. The Sinjar Agreement, which focused on governance and security arrangements, as well as the much-needed reconstruction of the district, was a first but important step in the right direction.

And, the UN was hopeful. Hopeful that the Agreement would be the start of a new chapter for Sinjar. One in which the interests of the Sinjari people would come first. One in which all actors, no matter their background or affiliation, would stand up…

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Kharrazi made the comments in a meeting with the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert in Tehran on Monday.

In the meeting, the former Iranian foreign minister pointed to recent Qur’an sacrilege in Sweden and Denmark, calling on the United Nations to clearly define freedom of expression in a resolution.

He further emphasized the need to withdraw foreign military forces from Iraq as soon as possible in accordance with a piece of legislation approved by the Iraqi parliament in early 2020 after the assassination of the anti-terror commanders in a US airstrike.

He also pointed out the Iraqis are able to govern themselves independently and secure their country, highlighting that the Iraqis do not need any foreign troops.

Kharazi also referred to the UN report regarding Iran’s defensive measures against the bases of separatist terrorist groups in northern Iraq and emphasized the need for realism in preparing such reports by the UN.

“Iran, in accordance with its right to legitimate defense and in response to the moves of terrorist groups, has been forced to take action,” he noted.

Elsewhere, Iran’s Foreign Policy Strategic Council further pointed out that the United States attempts to undermine the economic relations between Iran and Iraq, noting that the US pressures to prevent the payment of Iraq’s debt to Iran will only increase the suffering and hardship of the Iraqi people.

Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, for her part, pointed to the security agreement between Iran and Iraq and the two sides’ emphasis on its full implementation and expressed hope that this would prevent such problems from emerging again.

She also expressed her satisfaction with her trip to Iran and appreciated Iran’s positive role in helping Iraq, voicing hope that regional and international actors will help advance the Iraqi government’s plans for political stability, security and prosperity…

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27 July 2023- A Greencastle man allegedly now known as Kwame Asher Bey is looking at charges of fleeing officers and fleeing an officer. Byron Anthony Staple is charged with misdemeanor resisting arrest, misdemeanor false identification to a law enforcement officer, misdemeanor fleeing an officer, traffic violations of driving without an inspection, violating camping rules, and summary marijuana possession. Staple is behind bars in Franklin County Jail on a bail of $2,000.

Around 6pm on July 24th, DCNR Rangers were on patrol in the Buchanan State Forest, Todd Township, Fulton County when they allegedly spotted a Honda Pilot parked in a campsite that didn’t have an inspection sticker. After waiting about five minutes to see if the driver was just stopped momentarily, the Ranger approached the sole occupant, now known to be Byron Staple. Staple allegedly explained to officers that his name was “Kwame Asher Bey” and he was a consulate for the “Unami Buffalo Nation”. Staple also allegedly said he was a sovereign citizen.

The Unami Buffalo Nation in Pennsylvania describe themselves online as “the perennial Moors/Muurs, descendants of the Moroccan Empire.” Additionally, they “establish this law of restoration, reinstitution, and reaffirmation of the Moroccan Empire”.

Rangers ran the name Kwame Asher Bey through their system, which yielded no results. They, however, ran plates on the car and found them to be registered to Byron Staple. When Rangers approached Staple with this…

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Ad Melkert, the former Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission to Iraq until 2011, delivered an inspiring speech at the Free Iran World Summit on July 1, 2023. Acknowledging the perseverance and solidarity of the Iranian people, Melkert emphasized that change in Iran is inevitable and should happen sooner rather than later. He praised the courage of the Iranian men and women who have risen against the merciless regime and stood up for a secular and democratic republic. Despite fading media attention, the uprising continues, Melkert said, and he urged the international community to remain vigilant and support the Iranian people’s quest for justice and freedom. He highlighted the importance of the UN’s fact-finding mission to investigate human rights violations and called for determined action to hold oppressors accountable.

The full-text speech of Mr. Ad Melkert follows:

Dear friends and colleagues, Madam Rajavi, it’s a privilege to accompany you since 2009, the horrific attacks at Ashraf at the time in Iraq, on your journey to victory. Today’s meeting serves more than ever as a testimony to perseverance and solidarity as the necessary ingredients to make a change in Iran inevitable. And there are strong reasons to add that this might and should happen rather sooner than later.

These reasons, adding to decades of resistance by countless brave citizens and by the tireless efforts of your movements, have been provided by the courageous women and men in Iran that have stood up in great numbers against a merciless regime after Mahsa Amini fell victim to the so-called morality police. It’s the opposite of morality. It is immorality that serves to back up the dictatorship which for more than four…

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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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Attachments

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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