LocationsCelebrating UNDP Iraq’s support toward reconciliation and reintegration in Iraq
Uniting to prevent violence against women and girls who have been displaced
December 5, 2023
In the spirit of the 16 days of activism to eliminate violence against women and girls, and its theme of UNITE! Invest to prevent violence against women and girls - we shine a spotlight on our remarkable efforts towards the return and reintegration of Iraqi women and girls.
In 2014, the emergency of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) state triggered a wave of violence and displacement in Iraq. This conflict displaced approximately 3.3 million individuals from their homes. A number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were women and children - who endured the harrowing challenges of displacement, particularly in the Al Hol refugee camp and other areas.
While many have returned home, the United Nations estimates that over 1 million Iraqis remain displaced both in and outside the country. The Government of Iraq called for the return of their citizens displaced and residing in the Al Hol refugee camp in Northeast Syria and other places outside their areas of origin.
In response to this call, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Iraq, has been providing critical support to those who have returned to their places of origin across the country.
The Journey Home
For women and children being some of the most vulnerable IDPs, the journey home is more than just a physical return. It is a journey towards something, perhaps security and hope that a brighter future is ahead; that rebuilding from the ashes of what they had lost is, in fact, possible. The ordeal that entire communities endured is characterized by hardship and violence, the scars of which remain indelible, on their souls. The toll on mental health that this kind of trauma causes bruises the human spirit. For complete healing to occur, mental and emotional healing should also accompany physical healing.
Recognizing this, UNDP not only supports the physical return of the most vulnerable, but also works to address their emotional and basic needs. No one will return to a place where a new future cannot be built; which is why the areas that these communities return to must have the essentials - such as energy, clean water, availability of health care and education, as well as livelihood opportunities. These “necessities of life,” so to speak, allow returnees to feel good about returning - giving them a sense that they can rebuild and perhaps regain what they lost during their darkest years away from home.
To ensure social cohesion, which simply put, is a sense of belonging within a community and the harmonious relationships among the members within the community itself; building back the common bonds that previously held the communities together is a priority. This is because bringing communities together is the road to peace, and there can be no development without peace, nor can there be peace without development.
Mental Health Support: Healing Unseen Wounds
A group counselling session for women led by one of the UNDP project counsellors in Al Qaim.
Photo credit: WVI 2023
UNDP’s support often begins by dressing the often-unseen emotional wounds that displaced women have suffered. Through our programmes, we offer Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services (MHPSS) that help women unpack the weight of trauma from experiences they have been carrying for many years.
So far, over 5,482 returnees, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and host community members have been availed of MHPSS, such as individual counseling and group therapeutic interventions. UNDP continues to provide safe spaces for women and children to process their experiences - fostering healing and resilience.
Vocational Training: Building Futures, Breaking Chains
A group of women taking part in the agriculture training classes in Mosul, Ninewa.
Photo credit: WVI 2023
Healing and empowerment of communities leads to peace inside oneself but also at community levels, often preceding economic independence. UNDP is providing hope through livelihood opportunities by offering vocational training, equipping these resilient women with skills and knowledge to forge a new path. This not only opens doors to economic opportunities, but also breaks the chains that bind them to cycles of vulnerability. Over 3000 women have received training in agriculture, embroidery, and photography among other skills. Many of these returning women are widowed and primary caregivers to their children, with the full financial burden of supporting the entire family on their shoulders. They have become the breadwinners and female heads of household - as their husbands, fathers or brothers gone, leaving them to survive on their own. The skills offered are easy to use while at home, allowing them to care for their children at the same time.
Social Cohesion Support: Promoting reconciliation and community acceptance
Religious leaders from different faiths have a chat after a dialogue meeting organised by UNDP.
Photo credit: UNDP 2022
Local leaders are the trusted gate keepers of their respective communities, and beyond mental health and vocational training, UNDP extends crucial social cohesion support to different leaders including religious leaders, local authorities, local peace groups, and community facilitators to promote community cohesion. These conversations are critical for the healing of entire communities after years of trauma and uncertainty brought about by the conflict.
UNDP has hosted various community dialogues, town halls, and trainings in the areas of Ninewa, Anbar, Diyala, Salah al-Din, and Kirkuk to provide platforms for interaction on the importance of supporting those who have returned and identifying the social services that are essential for the whole community’s survival. One of UNDP’s most impactful results in this area is training over 800 religious leaders from diverse faiths who have formed a network that works together to spread messages of peace and cohesion in their respective communities.
A Call to Action: Celebrating the 16 Days of Activism
From livelihood opportunities to community-building initiatives, we are working tirelessly to support every effort to rebuild the lives of those who have experienced violence caused by conflict, ensure that we are part of the solution in providing ways and means to help them heal from trauma and support dignified returns by ensuring essential services are available to returnees in those locations.
There is a long road to development that lies before us, and peace is the vehicle that will take us there. We thank all those who have worked with us including the Government of Iraq including the Kurdistan Region as well as our funding partners, whose support has enabled our work to continue. Most importantly we are grateful for our network of community facilitators, local peace groups, youth and women’s groups who are on the ground doing the actual work of building the broken bonds.
Investments are not just financial – time and efforts made are also investments in human capital. Supporting UNDP’s work is key to ending violence against women and girls. Together, let us continue to stand against violence and work towards a future where every woman, girl, and child regardless of their past, can thrive and be active contributors to shaping future peace and development in Iraq.