Iraqi Civil Society Insights 2026: Rights, Resources and Civic Space in Iraq
ICSSI launches the first issue of Iraqi Civil Society Insights, a new publication bringing together locally grounded perspectives on the political, social and human rights challenges affecting Iraq.
The Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI) is pleased to publish the first issue of Iraqi Civil Society Insights, entitled “Rights, Resources and Civic Space in Iraq.”
Developed through consultations with Iraqi civil society organisations, activists and networks, written contributions from ICSSI partners, and a review of documentation collected between July and August 2026, the report brings together concerns emerging directly from civil society and highlights the links between different areas of rights and public life in Iraq.
The report examines how political, legal, economic and environmental pressures are reshaping rights and civic participation across Iraq. It explores shrinking civic space and freedom of expression, pressures affecting the Kurdistan Region, women’s rights and changes to the personal status framework, environmental justice and the water crisis in the Iraqi Marshes, and the continuing challenges faced by Yazidi communities in Sinjar.
A central finding runs throughout the publication: rights formally recognised in law are not always effectively protected in practice. Political influence, weak institutions, unequal access to resources, administrative restrictions, economic vulnerability and prolonged uncertainty increasingly shape the ability of citizens and civil society actors to exercise their rights.
The report also shows that restrictions on civic space do not operate only through direct prohibitions. Administrative requirements, legal uncertainty, regulatory intervention, digital surveillance, security pressure and the risk of retaliation can increase the costs of public participation and encourage self-censorship. At the same time, declining international funding is weakening the capacity of civil society organisations to document violations, retain experienced staff, and provide legal assistance and protection.
Through Iraqi Civil Society Insights, ICSSI aims to make locally grounded civil society analysis more accessible to Iraqi and international audiences, strengthen connections across struggles for rights and justice, and contribute to informed discussion and solidarity.
This publication is the first issue of an evolving space for documenting concerns, identifying connections across sectors, and amplifying independent civil society perspectives from Iraq.
Download the full report:
Iraqi Civil Society Insights — Issue No. 1: Rights, Resources and Civic Space in Iraq
