un iraq newsletter - reliefweb...where it will be part of a series of human rights education...

Newsletter - Issue 29 December 2012 - January 2013

UN Iraq Newsletter

IN THIS ISSUE

My Voice Counts: Act for human rights ......... 1

My Voice Counts: Youth are the future of the

country ...................................................................... 2

My Voice Counts: Young Iraqi voices .............. 4

My Voice Counts: “Go out and register to

vote” ............................................................................ 4

My Voice Counts: Women at IHEC .................... 5

Facts and figures on Iraqi women in public

life ................................................................................ 6

My Voice Counts: Ensuring women’s voices

shine through ......................................................... 7

My Voice Counts: Women in negotiation and

mediation ................................................................. 8

My Voice Counts: 2.75 million voices of peo-

ple with different abilities .............................. 8

My Voice Counts: Why the media’s voice

counts ..................................................................10

Journalist and woman: A double challenge ..... 12

My Voice Counts: Iraq, the cradle of civiliza-

tion ................................................................................... 13

List of the United Nations Acronyms ................... 15

Human Rights Day in 2012 was held under the theme “My Voice Counts”, celebrating inclusion and the right to participate in public life. Why does every single person’s voice count?

SRSG Martin Kobler cutting the Human Rights Day cake with representatives of the government and civil society in Baghdad on 13 December 2012. Photo: Sarmad Al-Safy / UNAMI PIO

At the United Nations’ Human Rights Day celebrations in Baghdad on 13 December

2012, held under the slogan of “My Voice Counts”, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Martin Kobler, presented awards to five Iraqi human rights defenders.

One of the honourees, Mr. Husam Abdullah Ali, is a 28-year old member of the Yazidi minority from Mosul. As a lawyer, Mr. Ali is an active community leader. He dreamed of a government that would include minority voices. With a group of NGOs, he campaigned

for a proportion of seats to be reserved for minorities. With the strength of their collective lobbying, they succeeded. “I was proud to recognize Mr. Ali and these other tireless activists, whose efforts prove that small deeds add up to big achievements,” Mr. Kobler said.

There is also another reason to honour activists on Human Rights Day: because their voices count. When they denounce abuses and condemn injustice. When they oppose torture, illegal detention and violations of civil and political rights. When they struggle for the fulfilment of the

My Voice Counts: Act for human rights

http://unami.unmissions.org UN Iraq Newsletter 2

economic, social and cultural rights of all. Because every single day that a child goes hungry or thirsty is an outrage, every single day a person dies from lack of medical care is a crime, and every single unemployed person is one too many.

Human rights are at the core of how we get along as people, how we treat each other. Human rights are for all people, of all nations and backgrounds. Each one of us has the right to the basic services that make life liveable. Each one of us has the intrinsic right to life. Civil or political, economic, social or cultural, these rights make us human, and being human gives us rights.SRSG Martin Kobler speaking at the UN Human Rights Day event in Baghdad on 13 December 2012. Photo:

Sarmad Al-Safy / UNAMI PIO

YOUTH

My Voice Counts: Youth are the future of the country

Iraq is a young country. Almost 30 percent of the population is between the ages of 15 and 29. Young people are

at the vanguard of creativity in any society, and Iraq is no exception. Many young Iraqis are engaged in media, literature, visual and performance art. A growing social media scene is helping to promote and connect these young creatives; new initiatives crop up on a regular basis: the famed performances of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra; the Erbil Literature Festival taking place in January 2013; a Facebook page called Iraqi Culture Day that draws together Iraqi youth interested in culture and organizes events that focus on creating dialogue; and the popular TEDx events, supported by the UN, promoting young artists, activists and entrepreneurs, and encouraging the generation of new ideas. These events, and many more, have brought together Iraqi youth across the country to interact with each other and gather momentum as a collective. These initiatives are practical examples of

the principle of participation, and the right to freedom of expression.

Furthermore, these initiatives are all fired by the power of cultural expression. Painting, drawing, poetry, theatre, and public debate can be ideal vehicles to spread positive messages that engage

young people and teach them about their rights. These artforms can also be used to throw the spotlight on crucial issues that affect youth. Cultural expression is one way that young people can bring their concerns to the attention of decision-makers and is a powerful

A speaker at TEDx BaghdadWomen in December 2012. Photo: Sarmad Al-Safy / UNAMI PIO


advocacy tool to create dialogue and push for change.

In recognition of the power of cultural expression to educate young people about their rights, foster youth participation, and usher human rights issues into the public forum, the UN family in Iraq held a variety of special cultural and educational events to celebrate Human Rights Day in 2012. Importantly, all events were attended by key UN interlocutors, Government officials, civil society organizations, educators, the international community, and, most importantly, young people.

In Kirkuk

In Kirkuk, a painting and drawing workshop invited young detainees at the Kirkuk Juvenile Police Station to illustrate their world and depict the issues affecting them. In parallel, the UNAMI Human Rights Office (HRO) collected artworks from secondary students from different ethnic backgrounds. This rich variety of drawings and paintings was combined in a joint exhibition highlighting a range of unique youth perspectives. The exhibition will travel throughout Kirkuk Province in 2013 to nine different schools, where it will be part of a series of human rights education sessions with students, to be conducted by HRO staff.

In Kurdistan Region

In the Kurdistan region, a series of public debates were conducted at three universities in Erbil, Dahuk and Sulaymaniyah. Students from each university were invited to present their own views on how their voices can be used to advocate for their rights. The HRO donated an exhibition to each university; the framed set of posters illustrating the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) will be placed on permanent display in the hallways of the universities.

In Baghdad

A special day of activities took place at UNAMI headquarters in Baghdad on 13

December. Government officials, embassy representatives, civil society groups, young people and UN staff enjoyed a special music performance by young members of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. An exhibition of paintings by young art students, organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), was also displayed. Eleven promising young Iraqi artists showcased their works, which reflected a range of human rights themes, including the plight of vulnerable groups such as women, children and internally displaced persons, a celebration of the freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and the young artists’ shared vision for Iraq.

In Basra

Cultural expression was also at the centre of the Human Rights Day programme of the UN’s Basra Office, where the HRO organized an event at the University of Basra. The day’s celebrations included a theatrical play to create awareness on the rights of women, and another on equality, a photo streaming presentation depicting everyday life in Basra, poetry recitals on human rights, and a photo exhibition raising awareness about intolerance against Emos.

YOUTH

Exhibition of drawings and paintings for Human Rights Day in Kirkuk. Photo: Waseem Wastin / UNAMI PIO

The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra performing at Human Rights Day in Baghdad on 13 December 2012. Photo: Sarmad Al-Safy / UNAMI PIO


My Voice Counts: Young Iraqi voices

My voice can! No, my voice cannot... Youth around the globe – and Iraqi youths are no

exception – think day after day about what their voices can do, and what they cannot do. In December and January, UNAMI asked Iraqi youth if they have a voice, if they can express themselves, and what they can do to make their voices heard in their local communities and across the country. Mandy Dheyab, 23, an Iraqi musician from Baghdad, said that she thinks her voice is important “because it can make a difference” in her society, while Nadia, 21, a student at Baghdad University, thinks

that her voice is important because “I’m an Iraqi.”A young carpenter from Basra city, Haitham Yousef, 20, seemed very confident when talking about his voice: “I may only be a carpenter, and maybe some think my voice is not important ... but for me, my voice is important because it can make a difference.”Saadoon Aftan, 21, from Baghdad, said that, “Because our society is ill, I think my voice is important to help find a cure to the illness of my society.” Others have conditions for their voices to be active and heard, like Uday Qassim,

21, from Baghdad, who thinks that his voice is important “as long as it reaches the decision-makers in this country”, and his ideas are translated into action to help rebuild Iraq. Rand Saad, 18, a young woman who competed in Archery at the London Olympics, dreams that her voice can “get Iraq’s name all over the world and the Iraqi flag in all international championships.” Hanin, 24, who works in IT and volunteers for an NGO in Baghdad, is aiming high. “I think my voice can achieve a lot of things,” she said. “I think I can do miracles with my voice and the most important thing is never to be pessimistic.”“We should not despair and we should find a way to make our voices heard because our voices are important,” she stressed.Despite the obstacles that may exist in Iraq to dreams being achieved or voices being heard, many young Iraqis believe in themselves and their voices’ importance. They believe their country is as big as the sea and that their voices are as loud as thunder. The “My Voice Can” video project is an initiative of UNAMI’s Youth Advisory Group.To see more, visit www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsIraq

ELECTIONS

Casting a vote in the ballot box is among the most important gestures that a citizen of voting age can make in a democratic country. With provincial council elections coming up in April

2013, preparations are going well at the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and the electoral schedule is being kept. The data entry is finalized and the voter lists updated. Now the eyes of Iraqis will be turning towards the upcoming electoral campaign, which will start in March.The UN Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT), led by UNAMI, working together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), supports the IHEC’s efforts to build a professional and sustainable electoral administration in Iraq, and to carry out its constitutional mandate with responsibility, integrity and transparency.

My Voice Counts: “Go out and register to vote”

YOUTH

Filming for “My Voice Can”. Photo: Fabienne Vinet / UNAMI PIO


WOMEN

My Voice Counts: Women at IHEC

During a recent visit to IHEC, a UNAMI delegation led by SRSG Martin Kobler was encouraged to

see efforts to include more women in the political process. While the UN team was going around the IHEC’s Data Entry Centre (DEC), for example, they could not miss the large number of women, busily working on the computers. Indeed, “with 38 percent women, the DEC is one of the most gender-balanced sections in IHEC,” the head of the International Electoral Assistance Team, Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz confirmed. SRSG Kobler also praised the increasing presence of women in the political arena, underlining that 26.5 percent of the candidates in the governorate council elections are women.IHEC’s Electoral Media and Public Outreach Department is another example of women making their mark in the electoral body. Headed by Ms. Nawal Hussein Khaled, the section is responsible for managing production of the full spectrum of electoral media: TV/radio spots, print ads, posters, billboards, brochures, calendars and related material framing the main electoral messages.Mr. David Aasen, Electoral Media Specialist, UN Integrated Electoral

Assistance Team, interviewed her on 15 January 2013.David Aasen: How did you get started at IHEC? Nawal Hussein: I applied when the electoral organization was first established in 2004. I had completed my Master’s degree and had experience in the Ministry of Planning and in television. I am now completing a PhD in fine arts, with a focus on graphics. There was a good match between my experience and electoral work. I have worked in several departments, but since 2006 I have been in Public Outreach. Last year I was appointed Chief of the Electoral Media Section. Now, of course, we are fully engaged in the Governorate Council Elections. DA: What does Electoral Media do? NH: This Section establishes and implements the electoral media plans—for the National Office and for each of the Governorate Electoral Offices (GEOs). We oversee the production of TV/radio spots based on the key messages we provide, and coordinate with the Graphics Unit to design and print the materials. These are the booklets, posters, banners distributed in the meetings with voters and displayed nationwide during each

phase of the campaigns. IHEC has just completed the Voter Registration Update stage of the Governorate Council Elections. The next phase will focus on the concept of ‘get out the vote’, which is part of the polling phase. We also organize the production of promotional materials and place official notices of procedures, like registration of candidates, in the press.DA: How have electoral media campaigns changed since the first elections of the political transition? NH: In the first elections, the UN was responsible for the whole media campaign. We have been trained by the UN and now we’re doing the job. The campaign is being carried out by Iraqi hands. We learn from our mistakes in each campaign and take measures to avoid them in the future. Some activities can be a challenge but we adapt to meet the needs of the GEOs. We can call on the UN for advice. They help us to accelerate certain actions; like UNDP placing banners on Yahoo! sites for this campaign. (The website banners, illustrated by ‘Abu Mutar’ (Father of Rain), a popular cartoon character created by IHEC artists, appear in Yahoo! mail accounts in Iraq. Abu Mutar’s captions clarify electoral information.)DA: We know that the media plan identifies “target groups” to reach during this campaign: first-time or young voters and the community of people living with disabilities. How are you reaching these groups? NH: We have designed TV advertisements, calendars, booklets which all feature voters from these groups. Our TV spots to support voter registration ran on 24 satellite stations. Our Public Outreach has organized meetings for students and civil society to inform target groups. In some GEOs they held sports events and poetry events to involve young people.DA: We noticed that your new TV spots and electoral graphics had a clean, contemporary look. There were

Ms. Nawal Hussein Khaled. Photo: IHEC


WOMEN

images of youth and voters living with disabilities.NH: If we’re doing a good job reaching all Iraqi voters in the mass media, we’ll reach these groups with our main messages: required documentation, where to vote, motivation, and how to cast your ballot. If we reach women in the campaign they will be the first in line to vote. DA: Going into this election, we note that more than 25 percent of the Governorate Council candidates – 2,210 – are women. At IHEC, female professionals are managing Sections, are on the Board of Commissioners and have launched a Gender Task Force. These are positive steps; what do you think needs to be done to promote women’s participation in the democratic process?

Highlights from the I-WISH 2011 SurveyUNFPA supported the implementation of the Iraqi Women Integrated Social and Health (I-WISH) Survey in 2011. This national survey of a sample of 10,620 households was carried out by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO) in cooperation with the Kurdistan Regional Statistical Office (KRSO) and Ministries of Health and Women’s Affairs in the country, with support from WHO, UNICEF, UN Women, and UNDP. Among the issues addressed in this survey are women’s empowerment, participation and equality in society. The survey collected data on girls’ and women’s education, access to information, political participation, economic empowerment, and gender equality. Education• 22 percent of Iraqi women between 15 and 45 are not able to read and write, and this percentage increases by age.• The illiteracy rate among women is 19.6 percent in all Iraqi governorates, except

Facts and figures on Iraqi women in public life

in the Kurdistan region, where it is 32 percent.• 69.4 percent of women reported that they did not reach the educational level they aspired to; 82.1 percent of them were in rural areas, with the highest percentage in Thi-Qar governorate (78.8 percent). • Reasons for not pursuing the educational level they aspired to included their families’ refusal to allow them to do so (40.8 percent), early marriage (13.1 percent), and economic reasons (11.7 percent).Access to information• 47 percent of women between 15 and 45 had not read any newspaper or magazine in the year preceding the survey.• 88 percent of women do not use the internet. Television is the main source of information (91 percent).Political participation• 67.4 percent of all Iraqi women between 15 and 45 participated in the 2010

parliamentary elections. In the Kurdistan region the percentage was 78 percent.• 41.5 percent of all Iraqi women refused to participate in the above-mentioned elections as they think voting is a matter for men.• 19.7 percent of women who did not participate in the elections reported that they did not participate because they think that elections are useless, and about 25 percent said that there was no community support for women to vote.• However, 84.8 percent of women believe that women should participate in elections as voters, and 67.7 percent stated that women should participate as candidates as well.Economic empowerment• 10.9 percent of women between 15 and 45 were gainfully employed during the survey period; in the Kurdistan region the figure was 12.3 percent.• 57.8 percent of the women who were not working attributed this to personal reasons (i.e. family reasons, not interested), 17.1 percent to a lack of

NH: I think that women in government need to be empowered and have a real team supporting them. If women in the Council of Representatives were seen by the media going down to the street to deal with the real problems of Iraqi women and men, that would have an impact. Deeds are stronger than words. They need to defend the rights of Iraqi women who are suffering from violence, family and societal pressures. We need to undertake special outreach efforts to female university students using social media. We had an ‘Appeal to Iraqi Youth’ to register to vote on Facebook which was popular.(IHEC is using its website at www.ihec.iq, Call Centre #5777, Facebook and YouTube to update voters.)

DA: How can students emulate your career path? NH: Electoral procedures aren’t taught at the university, only political science. Internship programmes for Iraqi students interested in democratic development aren’t well organized yet. Even so, I would encourage qualified graduates to get involved and apply to IHEC if they’re interested.DA: What would you like to try in the future? NH: The University has asked me several times to return as a lecturer. But I feel this electoral institution is my home, I want to keep doing this work for the Iraqi voters.


WOMEN

across IHEC’s technical and administrative sections. The Group, headed by a Commissioner, Ms. Gulshan Kamal, raises issues that affect women’s participation in elections, and seeks to implement appropriate solutions. Through this process, public outreach programmes and electoral materials will be specifically adapted with women’s participation in mind. The Group has already produced a package of outreach material, including a 2013 calendar that targets women voters.

With UN support, the Gender Working Group is also focusing on its own professional development, undertaking training in statistics, leadership and communication skills, and gender mainstreaming. As the members build their capacity to deliver effective messages and information materials, they will further increase the scope of their activities to engage female voters.In parallel, the UN’s Integrated Electoral Assistance Team (IEAT) also recognizes the need to mainstream gender considerations into its own processes. In January 2013, the IEAT established an Integrated Gender Elections Task Force (IGETF) which includes UNAMI Electoral staff, the UNAMI Gender Advisor, electoral and gender experts from UNDP, and the UNWomen Representative for Iraq, Ms. Frances Guy.The IGETF will work across three areas. Support to the IHEC in capacity-building, institution-building, procedures and methodology will be provided by UNDP and UNAMI, who will support the work of IHEC’s Gender Working Group. Liaison and advocacy with external partners such as civil society, media, and other Government actors will be carried out by UNDP, UNWomen and UNAMI’s Gender

Women make up 50 percent of Iraq’s population. When it comes time for the country to

vote in Governorate Council Elections on 20 April 2013, ensuring that half of the eligible voting population can make their voices count is a critical consideration for the nation’s electoral body, and for the United Nations. The Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) is, for the first time, convening a specialized Gender Working Group, made up of staff from

competency (i.e. education and skills), and 12.9 percent to economic difficulties (i.e. lack of work, low wages).• 30.3 percent of all Iraqi women expressed their willingness to work if offered an appropriate job (40.8 percent in Kurdistan region, compared to 28.4 percent in the other governorates).Gender equality• 38.6 percent of Iraqi women (18.4 percent in Kurdistan region and 42.3 percent in the other governorates) do not believe that men and women are equal in duties and rights.

• 67 percent of Iraqi women (42.7 percent in Kurdistan region and 71.5 percent in the other governorates) believe that there is discrimination in favour of men in political participation.The I-WISH survey is a tool to address and bridge gaps in women’s rights in Iraq. It was launched in March 2012 and all its results, data, reports and questionnaires were collected in a Public Use File (PUF) in December 2012 to be disseminated. The survey shows geographical disparities in Iraqi women’s status across governorates. For example, three times as

many women in Missan as in Muthanna governorate believe that participating in elections is a matter for men only. Another example is that women in Muthanna governorate are about nine times more interested than women in Kirkuk in working for wages if an appropriate opportunity is available. Women in Kirkuk are also nine times less likely than women in Najaf governorate to not be working for wages because of their low educational level.

My Voice Counts: Ensuring women’s voices shine through

SRSG Martin Kobler visiting IHEC’s Data Entry Centre in Baghdad on 6 February 2013. Photo: Sarmad Al-Safy / UNAMI PIO


My Voice Counts: Women in negotiation and mediation

WOMEN

UNWomen Iraq and UNAMI, in cooperation with the Kurdistan Region Parliament’s Research

Centre, organized a two-day workshop at Erbil’s Rotana Hotel on 17-18 December for female members of parliament from all parties in the Kurdistan region. Held within the framework of Security Council Resolution 1325 (2000) on Women, Peace and Security, the workshop’s goal was to enable female MPs to take part in negotiation and mediation processes and to strengthen women’s voices in the political, economic and cultural spheres. The workshop proved to be an opportunity for the MPs to voice their frustration about being virtually excluded from negotiations and mediation efforts, both with the central government and at the local level, and about not having their voices heard.“Despite our talents for negotiation, which sometimes surpass even those of men, we have not been allowed to participate in negotiation delegations so far,” said the Head of the Kurdistan Alliance in the Kurdistan Parliament, Ms. Sozan Khala Shahab. The workshop’s participants identified a series of recommendations, which include reserving 30 percent of seats for women on the Negotiations Council, establishing a ‘Security Council

Resolution 1325 Peace Group’ in the Parliament to support women’s role in peace building, and applying a 70/30 gender ratio to all political parties.Mr. Diederik Willems, representing UNAMI’s Erbil Regional Office, urged political parties “to take concrete measures to address the challenges currently preventing the engagement of women in negotiations”, while Ms. Frances Guy, UNWomen Representative in Iraq, underlined that “having women in key positions can impact positively on

sustainable peace and development in the Kurdistan region.”The workshop was one of many initiatives that the UN has organized across Iraq to empower women and increase their political inclusion. “UNAMI and UNWomen are committed to collaborating with institutions in the Kurdistan region, as well as the Monitoring Board on Women’s Rights, the High Council on Women’s Affairs and civil society organizations,” said Ms. Idah Muema, Gender Advisor for UNAMI.

Workshop on negotiation and mediation for female members of parliament in Erbil on 17-18 December 2012. Photo: Nafea Aziz / UNAMI PIO

DISABILITY

My Voice Counts: 2.75 million voices of people with different abilities

The performance of Iraqi athletes at the Paralympics in London in summer 2012 was an inspiration to

millions in Iraq and around the world.

Women and men from across the country competed against the strongest, fastest, smartest and most enduring among the world’s disabled athletes,

and more than held their own, bringing home two silver medals and one bronze. Official honours were bestowed on them in Iraq, validating their great

Advisor. Finally, to address development of the legal framework that ensures women’s participation in elections, UNAMI’s Gender Advisor and the Head of the IEAT, Mr. Jose Maria Aranaz, will work together.

“Gender and women’s participation in elections are aspects that the UN must rally to cover in our preparations,” said Mr. Aranaz. “It is vital that women participate actively, and that their expectations are reflected in a credible

and meaningful electoral outcome. Through this new task force, we want to ensure that the maximum number of women go along to the polling booth to have their say.”


determination and positive spirit in overcoming the odds imposed on them by their disabilities.Only months later, however, press reports highlighted the difficult circumstances that even the heroes of the Paralympics face back at home, illustrating how many highly talented and skilled men and women with disabilities are stymied in their ability to contribute to a prosperous and proud future for the country by the challenges they face in navigating daily life.Iraq has a higher percentage of persons with disabilities than other countries – not only persons born with disabilities, but also those who suffered disabilities later on. Three wars in as many decades and terrorist attacks have cost a large number of people their limbs, eyesight, and various physical, intellectual and mental abilities that other people take for granted. A degradation in essential services and poor medical treatment have further exacerbated the issue. More often than not, disabled Iraqis, who come from all sectors of society, find themselves confined to domestic settings, with limited access to healthcare, education, employment and economic opportunity. The plight of Iraqis with intellectual disabilities or mental illness is particularly acute. Their

DISABILITY

voices are seldom heard in Iraq, and there are very few services which cater to their particular needs. Their access to public services is at times severely restricted.

revisions are required to bring it fully into line with the Convention. Public perception is another challenge. People with disabilities are perceived as persons who deserve to be pitied, rather than simply as people with different abilities, which often equal and at times far exceed those of “able” bodied people.These issues were at the heart of the discussions at a conference organized by UNAMI, together with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Iraqi Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and the NGO Iraqi Alliance for Disabilities Organization (IADO), in Baghdad on 22-23 December as part of the celebrations to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities (3 December).Participants of the conference came from a variety of backgrounds, from many areas of Iraq, to discuss recommendations on how to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Iraq.

Iraq’s ratification on 23 January 2012 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities reflected recognition of the importance of protecting and promoting the rights of these approximately 2.75 million Iraqi citizens. It was an encouraging step forward, and the United Nations welcomed the Government’s commitment to ensuring that persons living with disabilities can fully and equally participate in every aspect of the social, economic, cultural and political life of Iraq, just as any other citizen.However, legislation meant to ensure the implementation of the Convention is still pending, and further

Mr. Francesco Motta, the Director of the UNAMI Human Rights Office and Representative of the UN High Com-missioner for Human Rights in Iraq, speaking at a conference to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Photo: Louise Barber / UNAMI PIO

Conference in Baghdad to mark the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Photo: Louise Barber / UNAMI PIO


“Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes

freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” Article 19, Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Upon the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003, and after years of censorship and controlled information, the hope for genuine freedom of expression was great and the number of media outlets quickly multiplied.

Iraqis were given a wealth of opportunities to access information, with hundreds of radio and TV stations and newspapers being established. Beyond the numbers, however, the situation of the press was still far from ideal.

Within this newly acquired freedom of expression, Iraqi media and journalists were trying to find their way. In a country where the press was locked in for decades, a culture of legislated and

DISABILITY

A series of presentations gave an insight into how it is to live as a disabled person in Iraq. Many of the conference participants shared stories of hardship and limited access to basic and medical services. They also shared stories of success and achievement against the odds. Providing disabled persons with a forum to voice their stories is an important part of ensuring that their rights are respected.The United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General (DSRSG) for Iraq in Development and Humanitarian Affairs, Ms. Jacqueline Badcock, told the audience that the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities does not create more rights, or special rights, for people with disabilities – but establishes an agenda

for action, for translating human rights concepts into realities. She underlined the importance of making the voices of persons with disabilities count in the upcoming Governorate Council Elections.The recommendations that the participants unanimously approved at the end of the conference, and that will be submitted to the Iraqi parliament, the Council of Representatives, as concrete recommendations for action, were divided into four categories: implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; political and electoral rights of persons with disabilities; the rights of persons with intellectual disabilities; and the rights of persons with physical disabilities. They include the

establishment of an independent body, linked to the Independent High Commission for Human Rights, to oversee the implementation of the duties imposed by the Convention; a quota for persons with disabilities’ representation in the Council of Representatives and in governorate, municipal and local councils; legislation specifically on the needs of persons with intellectual disabilities; training institutes and special schools for persons with intellectual disabilities; the provision of wheelchairs, canes and other aides for persons with physical disabilities; and various other recommendations to allow persons with disabilities to overcome the challenges that constrain their ability to unfold their full potential, and to make their voices heard for the benefit of all Iraqis.

MEDIA

My Voice Counts: Why the media’s voice counts

recognized access to information is unlikely to materialize overnight, stresses Ms. Karin Mayer, a Humanitarian Affairs Officer at UNAMI, who has researched the Iraqi media landscape in depth over

the past four years by collecting the testimonies of hundreds of journalists.

While Article 38 (1) of Iraq’s Constitution guarantees freedom to journalists and media, a lot could still be done to protect


MEDIA

freedom of expression, and journalists continue to face countless threats in the course of performing their duties.

“Journalists, media professionals and associated personnel across Iraq continue to face high levels of risk stemming from active engagement in their professions, often in relation to reporting on corruption, demonstrations, or issues related to law reform,” indicates Mr. Francesco Motta, Director of the UNAMI Human Rights Office (HRO) and Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq.

The major challenges for journalists and media include safety and security, impunity, independence and media regulation. Indeed, some anticipated items of legislation, like the Information Crimes Law, were sharply criticized by Iraqi media and the international community for unclear provisions and extreme punishments. The collaborative efforts of the United Nations in Iraq, international NGOs, Iraqi civil society and the Iraqi parliament to raise awareness around issues that relate to freedom of expression have resulted in the recent move by the Iraqi Parliament to revoke this controversial law.

The war for information

Iraq remains an unpredictable environment, where violence and terrorist attacks still frequently claim many lives. Journalists report on violence, while also experiencing it. “Threats and intimidation are commonplace, as are physical assaults, attempted murders and killings,” confirms Mr. Motta.

The data speak for themselves. Iraq was rated 150th out of 179 countries in the 2013 World Press Freedom Index recently published by Reporters without Borders. The country was also considered the deadliest for journalists from 2003 to 2008; 136 journalists were killed during

that period according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Beyond violence, journalists in Iraq also face other types of discrimination, including through the legal process. Slander and libel are not only civil causes of action, but can also fall under the Penal Code of 1969 and the Publications Law.

“Currently, media professionals in Iraq are held in the grip of legislation that restricts their freedom to practice their profession with the independence their colleagues enjoy in many other countries,” stresses Ms. Mayer. “Journalists and media personnel increasingly face accusations of being affiliated with and/or supporters of terrorist groups, and they are frequently subject to criminal libel suits,” adds Mr. Motta.

The price of information

Financial independence remains another challenge for the Iraqi press and financial autonomy continues to be difficult to achieve. The lack of advertising revenues forces a lot of newspapers and TV stations to accept funding from political factions.

“Newspapers and media have no real choice but to accept this situation, for financial reasons, but also for security reasons,” adds Ms. Mayer. “The past decade has been incredibly violent in Iraq and having the support of a political entity would make things safer.” These financial ties often prevent media from remaining impartial.

“Independent media play a big role in this battle of funding and control between political entities and militias,” confirms Mr. Ismael Zayer, editor-in-chief of Al-Sabah al-Jadeed, an independent daily Iraqi newspaper. The sensitivity of certain topics and the strong reluctance of some journalists to write about them jeopardize the free circulation of information.

“The government or other entities don’t directly influence our writing. However, we think a lot before writing anything, because of militias and para-political powers. Journalists are becoming more cautious. Self-control and self-censorship are widespread,” stresses Mr. Zayer.

Ethics and reporting standards also fall short in Iraq, according to the UNAMI Human Rights Office. “There is no overarching ‘code of conduct’ for journalists, who are largely free to publish what they want. The press is highly politicized, with media outlets favouring one or other political bloc, or based along religious or ethnic lines. There is little ‘quality control’ of how journalists present their work,” says Mr. Motta.

For the editor-in-chief of Al-Sabah al-Jadeed, self-censorship and independence are not the only challenges. “Another problem is the lack of information. We don’t have enough power to have access to information from the government,” he deplored.

“Information and its free circulation are fundamental to a functioning democracy,” stresses Ms. Mayer. “When journalists cannot report impartially and give the right information, the population cannot participate in democratic discourse and decision-making, having to operate out of an information vacuum.”

However, there is reason for hope, partly due to the internet. “The exponential increase in the use of the internet in today’s Iraq has greatly expanded the ability of individuals and groups to enhance their freedom of expression and their rights to seek, receive and impart information,” underlines Ms. Mayer. “Specifically, new media platforms have made it possible for almost any citizen to communicate to a large audience, both locally and across borders.”

(1) Article 38 of Iraq’s Constitution:The State shall guarantee in a way that does not violate public order and morality:A. Freedom of expression using all means.B. Freedom of press, printing, advertisement, media and publication.C. Freedom of assembly and peaceful demonstration.


MEDIA

women journalists to work together. “Progress will come only if women speak out with a strong, united voice on issues that affect them,” she stated.

The idea for the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum originated with Ms. Nebrass Almamori. The passionate Iraqi journalist decided to set up the forum because she felt that the voices of women were not taken seriously inside the Iraqi Journalists Union (IJU).

“Women in the media are generally there only for the picture,” she emphasized, adding that women today should be able to occupy any position in the media field.

The initiative also included the production and broadcast of a series of TV documentaries about violence against women in Iraq, also sponsored by UNWomen. “This project was an opportunity to increase awareness about violence against women, but also to promote the work of camerawomen, women sound technicians, women journalists and women presenters,” added Ms. Guy.

Being a journalist in Iraq is still often a challenge, but being a woman journalist in Iraq is even

more difficult. Under-represented, often underestimated and poorly equipped, the route is not easy for the women who hope to work in media.

“Female journalists and media professionals working on human rights issues and on issues related to accountability and access to justice are particularly vulnerable to threats and intimidation,” confirms Mr. Francesco Motta, the Director of the UNAMI Human Rights Office and Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq.

Yet, there is hope. Conscious of their lack of power in the mainstream media, a group of women journalists have decided to organize themselves to make their voices count, with the support of UN Women: In mid-January 2013, the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum celebrated its first year of existence.

“UNWomen was glad to be there to demonstrate the important role that

women can play in the media in Iraq to help empower other women,” said UNWomen Representative in Iraq, Ms. Frances Guy.

Leading women’s rights advocate Ms. Hanaa Edwar, for her part, mentioned the significant role played by women in the media throughout the years, underlining the importance for

Journalist and woman: A double challenge

Celebrating the first anniversary of the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum. Photo: Fabienne Vinet / UNAMI PIO

The UNWomen Representative in Iraq, Ms. Frances Guy, visiting the cartoon exhibition at the celebrations of the first anniversary of the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum. Photo: Fabienne Vinet / UNAMI PIO


MEDIA

Cartoons: When images are worth a thousand words

A cartoon exhibition at the celebration of the first anniversary of the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum was organized by the Rafidain Women’s Coalition to end violence against women and girls in Iraq. The drawings illustrated the countless challenges faced by Iraqi women in their daily lives. The amount of work a woman has to accomplish at home while the men of the family are resting, violence against women and early marriage for young girls were among the issues illustrated by the cartoons drawn by Mr. Salam Mahmoud, broaching subjects that are still considered taboos in parts of Iraqi society.“Cartoons are a very effective way to carry messages and can have a powerful impact on readers,” commented Ms. Guy.

My Voice Counts: Iraq, the cradle of civilization

CULTURAL HERITAGE

Iraq conjures up many enduring cultural images: the great lions of Babylon, the Ishtar Gate, and the

superb spiral mosque of Samarra are some of the most renowned. These vast

archaeological riches, spanning centuries of civilization, are part of the national heritage that is shared by all Iraqis – and part of the patrimony of all humanity.

Access to this shared patrimony is a right, protected by a number of international human rights instruments. Recent visits to the National Museum of Iraq by the UNESCO Office for Iraq, and UNAMI’s Human Rights Office (HRO) and Integrated Coordination Office for Development and Humanitarian Affairs (ICODHA) were part of the UN’s strong emphasis in 2013 on promoting economic, social and cultural rights in Iraq. Both visits were a chance to explore the Museum’s collections, and to learn about how Iraqis can access and enjoy their cultural heritage.

“The National Museum is a great cultural symbol for the people of Iraq,” says Mr. Francesco Motta, Chief of the HRO and Representative of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Iraq. “This visit is a chance for us to identify areas where the UN might be able to assist with the protection, preservation and promotion of this cultural heritage for all Iraqis,” he said.

Cartoon exhibition illustrating the challenges Iraqi women face in their daily lives. Photo: Fabienne Vinet / UNAMI PIO

UNAMI Human Rights Director Francesco Motta at the National Museum in Baghdad in January 2013. Photo: Louise Barber / UNAMI PIO


CULTURAL HERITAGE

management, conservation and restoration of antiquities and historical sites. UNESCO also works to strengthen Iraqi capacities to regain cultural properties, both ancient and modern, that have been illicitly exported from the country. In 2013, UNESCO will organize an international conference in Baghdad to discuss the way forward for the protection of Iraqi cultural heritage, ten years after the looting of the National Museum.

While the National Museum’s collections are now in safe hands, the Director of the Education Department, Ms. Yass points out that there is much work to be done throughout Iraq to protect the thousands of historical sites dotted across the country from looters, erosion and neglect. This is the next great challenge for Iraq’s cultural authorities, and for the UN. UNESCO has also been working side by side with the antiquity authorities and police forces to reinforce local capacity to protect these sites.

“If these historical and cultural riches are not protected, they will not be accessible for future generations,” Mr. Motta explains. “Conservation is crucial to ensure that this heritage is not lost, and that it remains intact for young Iraqis to discover and enjoy.”

Established in 1926, the Museum houses a collection that covers 7,000 years of Mesopotamian history. Artefacts date from prehistory, the Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian, Babylonian and Islamic cultures, and range from tiny figurines to imposing stone statues of ancient gods.

The devastating impact of war and violence, visible throughout Iraqi society, has also left its mark on the Museum. Widespread looting of its collections occurred in 2003, and thousands of its treasures were smuggled out of the country. To date, only half of the missing pieces have been recovered, and up to 10,000 objects are still unaccounted for. For this reason, and because of damage to and deterioration of the building, it has been years since the Museum consistently opened its doors to the Iraqi people. Currently, a few exhibition halls are accessible to the public, by appointment only.

“It is clear that the Museum has faced some major challenges in the past years,” says Mr. Motta. “I hope that Iraqis will soon be able to freely enjoy these incredible collections. The right to freely participate in the cultural life of the community is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the National Museum is arguably the greatest cultural institution in the country.”

The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights reiterates the importance of cultural participation, and cites conservation as a critical step to ensure the diffusion of culture in the community. Conservation is now the key activity to enable the Museum to reopen, and it is well and truly underway. In every gallery, there are conservation specialists working with tiny paintbrushes, or checking the optimal atmospheric conditions on specialized instruments that dot the walls.

Museum staff are immensely proud of what they are achieving. A special

guided tour for the UN delegation was led by Museum Curator, Mr. Madhi, and Director of the Museum Education Department, Ms. Yass.

“We are working very hard to restore the galleries and reinstate the collections,” says Mr. Madhi. Standing in the centre of what will become the ‘Sumerian Room’ he points out the works still underway, and the precious objects that are being arranged in new showcases for the very first time.

“The Iraqi authorities have achieved a great deal in protecting our heritage, and to retrieve stolen and trafficked artefacts,” says Ms. Louise Haxthausen, Director of UNESCO Office for Iraq, following her first visit to the museum in her new role. “However there are still vast challenges ahead where the support of the UN and the international community at large will continue to be critical.”

International support has already made a positive impact, and continues to flow in from several countries, including the United States and Italy. The UN continues to be an important partner, with the UNESCO Office for Iraq working side by side with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Culture, and the Kurdistan Regional Government to support good practices in museum

At the National Museum in Baghdad. Photo: Louise Barber / UNAMI PIO


CULTURAL HERITAGE

As the Director of the Education Department, Ms. Yass reveals her plans for outreach and awareness programmes on the Museum’s collections. In particular, she is developing a programme of school visits to teach children about Iraq’s cultural heritage.

However, until the Museum’s collections are ready to be unveiled to the public, full implementation of these education programmes is on hold.

With the continued support of the international community, and the dedication of the Museum’s staff, that

day may not be far off. Ms. Yass says that the Museum aims to reopen at the end of 2013, a fitting occasion to do so.

In 2013, Baghdad will be feted as the ‘Arab Capital of Culture’, a milestone for the capital city of a country that has suffered years of conflict. The reopening of the Museum would be a triumphant close to the year for Baghdad, and for all Iraqis – by once again making the rich cultural heritage of the country available to all Iraqis.

List of the United Nations AcronymsThe United Nations Country Team has 20 members, including 16 resident and four non-resident agencies. Members of the Team are: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization (ILO), Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN WOMEN), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), UN Population Fund (UNFPA), UN Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO). In addition to UN entities, the United Nations Country Team includes the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the World Bank.

UN Iraq Newsletter is publishedmonthly by the UNAMI Public Informa-tion Office. Contents do not necessarilyreflect the official position of the UnitedNations or that of UNAMI. Articles maybe freely reproduced, with credit toUN Iraq Newsletter. For comments andsuggestions, [email protected]: Eliana NabaaEditor: Anne CzichosGraphic Designer: Salar A. BrifkaniContributors: Louise Barber, Fabienne Vinet, Ihsan Barzinji, Ali Al-Mshakheel and Anne Czichos / UNAMI PIO; David Aasen / UNDP; UNFPA

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