Media is essential in order to foster a sense of citizenship in Iraq. The working group on IDPs and Minorities, which is part of the Iraqi Social Forum and lead by Masarat Foundation for Cultural and Information Development, delivered two series of workshops for journalists on how to report on issues related to minorities and peacebuilding. In particular they received training on writing mechanisms to report on minority and religious issues, and how to obliterate stereotypes of minorities in the media.

The first training from 27-28 March was conducted by experts in the field of media and minorities, including Father Mayser al-Mukhlisi, Ms. Nadia Fadel (Director General of Awqaf Endowments) and Dr. Khalil al-Jundi (researcher of Yezidi history). During the second training from 25-26 April, Father Dr. Amir Jaji, the Pontifical Advisor for Interfaith Dialogue, explained how one can encourage citizenship and unite a community of different religions and backgrounds. He pointed out the importance of media to establish a better future for the country. Prince Nayef bin Daoud bin Salman, a member of the Supreme Yazidi Council, presented a detailed picture of Yazidis as an identity and a religion for the group of journalists and researchers participating in the workshop.

Additional workshops will follow, aiming to train more than a 100 journalists from all over the country as part of the working group’s campaign on minorities and peacebuilding in Iraqi society.