CPI’s Annual Conference in Baghdad
On 10 December 2023, coinciding with Human Rights Day, CPI held its annual conference in Baghdad. The conference was attended by the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Migration and Displacement and a delegation from the Kurdistan Regional Government led by the Coordinator for International Advocacy in the Kurdistan Regional Government. The Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights and the human rights offices of Iraqi ministries also actively participated in the event. In addition, various institutions and civil society organisations specialised in specific human rights files participated in the conference.
The conference discussed the challenges facing social cohesion in Iraq and how to strengthen sustainable peacebuilding. The focus was on cooperation between all relevant ministries and governmental bodies in Iraq. It also focused on cooperation to achieve common goals between the Federal Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government to achieve equality and combat discrimination in all sectors and areas of society.
The conference addressed the role of education in empowering youth and encouraging their participation in their communities. Discussions covered CPI’s projects aimed at improving educational opportunities and skills development for youth in Iraq, which included various courses and programmes organised by CPI in several Iraqi provinces to enhance the capacities of young people who are seen as the peacebuilders of the future.
The importance of cultural and religious dialogue in promoting tolerance and mutual understanding among all segments of Iraqi society was highlighted. Participants discussed how CPI could support this dialogue to promote peace and peaceful coexistence by working to facilitate solutions to stalled social and human rights issues, such as the issue of missing persons and the Iraqi refugee file.
The conference included several side meetings to discuss the legal challenges of obtaining official identity documents and the facilitation that the Iraqi government can provide in this regard, as part of the legal clinic programme established by CPI. Discussions also took place on the challenges and risks faced by returning refugee families who were previously in refugee camps in Syria and are currently in refugee camps in Iraq. The need to work towards their reintegration into their original communities and regions was highlighted.
In conclusion, the conference left a positive and clear impact on enhancing CPI’s vision of social cohesion in Iraq, which is being implemented through the various projects that CPI is carrying out. Emphasis was placed on the urgent need to continue joint efforts between CPI and relevant state institutions.
