Human security requires environmental security Joint statement on the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, November 6 2018 Original statement here Today, our group of concerned civil society organisations, which includes academics, experts and scientists, are calling for the international community to enhance the protection of people...
The New Arab, 3 November 2018 Iraqi fish farmers south of Baghdad have been left reeling after finding thousands of dead carp mysteriously floating in their cages or washed up on the banks of the Euphrates. Piles of the dead silvery fish, along with a few car tyres and plastic bags, could be seen on...
There is no doubt that the feminist movement within Iraqi civil society has reached a new stage of maturity, enabling many activists to achieve goals which previously seemed out of reach. Perhaps one of the most prominent signs of this success is the integration of women into organizations and institutions in decision-making roles. This broader...
World Cleanup Day, 15 September, saw the launch of a new campaign by volunteers of the Peace Forum in Ramadi. They plan to defend Euphrates River against pollution, and they have joined up with the Ramadi Police Directorate, Ramadi Municipality and Anbar Environment Directorate, all of whom have shown spectacular support for the campaign thus...
2nd Kurdistan Social Forum 24-25 October 2018, Sulaimani University Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq Un Ponte Per (UPP), Peace and Freedom Organization (PFO) and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI) would like to invite you to the annual event of the Kurdistan Social Forum, to take place in Sulaymaniyah from 24-25 October 2018...
The Iraqi and Kurdistan Social Forums have launched a new initiative to promote social cohesion in 4 governorates. “Councils for Social Cohesion” have been established in Sulaymaniyah, Baghdad, Amara and Ramadi, coordinated by civil society organizations belonging to the working groups (masar) of the social forums. Within these councils community leaders, local authorities and civil...
The Alyahodia River is a large tributary of the Euphrates, named after the city of Al-Hindiya, and known also as the Babylon Channel. In the past, its banks housed an intersection of cultures and religions which formed a thriving and integrated community. The original name of the river, Judaism River, dates back to 550 BC when...
BBC News A female human rights activist has been shot dead in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, which has seen violent anti-government protests in recent weeks. Video posted online appears to show an unidentified man opening fire at Suad al-Ali as she gets into a car near a supermarket in the Abbasiya area. Another...
Save the Tigris Campaign and partners announce the first alternative civil society forum for water in Mesopotamia: the Mesopotamian Water Forum will be held from 5-7 April 2019 in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and will involve civil society actors from the states of Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Syria. It will be an open space to...
Arabic | عربي Eleven local social forums from different Iraqi cities met in Baghdad to discuss their role in the Iraqi Social Forum process. “We Love Iraq” meeting، Baghdad – 10/09/2018 The Karrada district, located in the heart of Baghdad, hosted a 3-day meeting of 11 social forums representing 11 different Iraqi cities. The...
Arabic | عربي Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative 11 September, 2018 “Try to drink tap water from anywhere here if you can,” said one of Basra’s tribal sheikhs, addressing the Iraqi Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi. “Why do you treat Basra residents as second-class citizens?” The sheikh called on the Iraqi government to apologize for describing...
Arabic | عربي By Kawa Hassan and Camilla Born Middle East and North Africa Program & Working Group on Climate-Related Security Risks The following report was used in a July 2018 UN Security Council debate on the nexus between climate change and security, brought forward under the Swedish Presidency of the Council. Iraq is...
