The Iraqi Social Forum organized a musical event on International Youth Day, last Saturday on the 7th of August 2021 at IQ Peace Center; where the band Ghaima gave a musical performance for the audience that consisted of a number of activists and volunteers. The event was inaugurated by the secretary of the Forum Mahmoud […]
Background on Observing the Iraqi Parliamentary Elections 2021 Since 2005, Iraq has gone through several electoral experiences and the Shams network has had an active role in monitoring the elections as one of the most prominent Iraqi civil society institutions and its contribution to supporting the transparency and integrity of the elections was evident through […]
GCHR The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) expresses its deep sorrow about the murder of Ali Karim, the 26-year-old son of prominent human rights defender Fatima Al-Bahadli, and expresses its full solidarity with her. On 23 July 2021, after Karim left the family’s home in Basra at four o’clock in the afternoon, contact with him was […]
Strengthening the Rule of Law and Accountability for Human Rights Violations
OHCHR The rule of law and accountability for human rights violations are critical for the prevention of violations, conflict, and violence, the building and sustaining of peace, and the achievement of inclusive development. The costs of lawlessness are starkly evident across the world: in failures of justice and impunity for crimes, conflict over unaddressed grievances, […]
Fear and Anger Follow a Deadly Fire at an Iraqi Teaching Hospital
Al-Fanar Media The outbreak of a horrific fire at a teaching hospital in southern Iraq has once again highlighted the mismanagement at the hospitals where Iraq trains its medical students, prompting expressions of concern from medical educators and students.The explosion of three oxygen tanks at Al-Hussein Hospital in Nasiriyah, a city in Dhi Qar governorate, […]
Fears of Disappearance of the Lower Zab in 2030
Water levels in the lower Zab is reduced by 5 cm/day and the banks of the river decrease by 30 cm/week. The Zab River collects 80% of water from the Mountains of Mahabad, Sardasht and Piranshar in Iran, and despite drought and scarcity, the Iranian authorities stop the water flow to Zab from time to […]
Two Hospital Fires Point to Wider Problems in Iraq
Fanack.com A deadly fire has caused renewed outrage among Iraqis, tired of corruption and mismanagement of public resources after wars and international sanctions have already ravaged and stripped down the country’s health infrastructure. The Republic of Iraq has been hit by the second tragic hospital fire in three months triggered by unsafe storage of oxygen in the treatment of […]
On Thursday, July 8th 2021, the Iraqi Social Forum held a seminar with the title “Political Participation, Boycott Options, and Participation in Elections” via zoom application. In which, Dr Hussain Al-Hindawi, advisor to the Prime Minister for Electoral Affairs, Mr Wissam Jaafar, executive director of Tawasul Organization, and Mr Yasser Al-Salem, member of the Central […]
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrel reiterated European Union’s support to Iraq in the upcoming elections during the meeting with Fuad Hussein (Iraqi foreign minister), according to the EU delegation to Iraq on Monday (21 of June). “Following an invitation from the Iraqi authorities, the EU had decided to deploy an Election Observation Mission (EOM),” […]
Appeal for International Solidarity to Protect Freedom of Expression in Iraq
24 June 2021 The “Protect Iraqi Human Rights Defenders Now!” campaign supports freedom of expression and freedom of the press throughout all of Iraq. Today, freedom of expression in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) is under attack. Five Badinan activists and journalists—Sherwan Sherwani, Hariwan Essa, Guhdar Zebari, Shvan Saeed, and Eyaz Karam—have been sentenced […]
From: Save the Tigris Campaign To: UNESCO World Heritage Centre Re: Threats to Ashur and Ahwar World Heritage Properties — Civil Society Concerns and Requests We write as a coalition of civil society organisations from nine countries advocating for the protection of heritage in the Tigris–Euphrates basin. We would like to express our concerns to the […]
Gender-Specific Training Helps Women Entrepreneurs in Vulnerable Economies
Al-Fanar Media why do we need gender-specific entrepreneuship programs? The question is posed by the economist Sara Cantillon, director of the Centre for Economic Justice and a professor of economics and gender at Glasgow Caledonian University’s Glasgow School for Business and Society. The answer is that female entrepreneurs face several difficulties with different gender-specific dimensions, […]