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Founding Conference “Action Map to End the Suffering of the Families of Victims of Missing and Forcibly Disappeared”
Launched on Sunday, 4/21/2024
A group of civil society organizations active in the issue of missing and forcibly disappeared persons and supporting their families held its founding conference in the Memory Park (Monument to the Missing and Disappeared) in the Al-Safina village of Qayyarah District in Nineveh Governorate.
In the presence of a number of victims’ families, activists and workers in the field of human rights, especially journalists and media figures, Mr. Mustafa Abdel Wahed, Executive Director, gave a speech on behalf of the coalition network and introduced the project whose goals the partners seek to achieve. In turn, they made it possible for the media figures, journalists and the entire audience to answer and discuss questions, everyone. He appreciates the efforts made by the contributors and participants in this important event and will work to combine all efforts to combat the issue and seek to end the file of harm that befell the victims and their families.
Tadraak Organization for Human Rights and Democracy holds a small meeting with victims of enforced disappearance
Tadrak met with the families of the victims of enforced disappearance and those working on this file on Thursday evening, corresponding toThe objective of encouraging the participation of the families of victims as the core of the issue and involving them within the file in force to develop concepts and plans for an action map to end the suffering of the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq The meeting included interventions clarifying the most prominent problems and failures facing the victims at various levels. The meeting concluded with the recording of many points. Among the recommendations, solutions and proposals that will be taken into account when preparing the work map, which would contribute to ending the file of missing and forcibly disappeared.
Nineveh Women's Organization for Women's Affairs holds a discussion session on facilitating compensation procedures for victims' families with the Compensation Department in Nineveh
During the session, the challenges and problems facing the cadres in the Compensation Department, which hinder the smooth conduct of the procedures, were discussed, in addition to discussing a number of basic axes, most notably: improving communication between the Department and the victims' families, enhancing transparency in procedures, providing the necessary support for cadres to provide better services, and putting forward constructive ideas and suggestions that would contribute to speeding up and enhancing compensation procedures. This session aims to improve the situation and alleviate the suffering of the families of victims who suffer from great complications in obtaining compensation. Due to them.
Al-Haq Organization for Human Rights holds a consultation session with the families of the missing and disappeared victims to discuss the preliminary results of the research study and listen to the opinions and experiences of the victims' families.
The hearing session comes to include the opinions and experiences of families in dealing with the social, economic and legal events that accompanied the loss, and to focus on the challenges and problems facing families who are still without a breadwinner.
Within the project “Action Map to End the Suffering of Families of Victims of Missing and Forcibly Disappeared” a mini-meeting was held on enforced disappearance in Basra.
Within our project “Action Map” to end the suffering of the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq, a small meeting was held with the aim of encouraging the participation of victims to develop concepts and plans for the action map, which was held in Basra Governorate on 6/13/2024.
The first regular attendance meeting in Salah al-Din.
The first periodic meeting was held in Salah al-Din - Tikrit on June 14, 2024, and a set of axes were discussed, the creation of which will take a step towards progress and development.
Policy paper writing session
In the city of Ramadi, we held a session to write a policy paper on the principles of action on the enforced disappearance file, which was adopted by Al-Haq from Anbar and its partners from the organizations working on this file. To be one of the bases for collective action on the issue of enforced disappearance in Iraq. If organizations continue their efforts to register a network concerned with enforced disappearance issues that works at the national level to adopt outcomes and solutions that address the thorny issue of enforced disappearance and missing persons. The senior management of the partner organizations participated in the session, with a notable presence of the victims’ families from Anbar, Salah al-Din, and Kirkuk governorates. Through policy, we seek to establish working mechanisms around the file of missing persons and persons to provide the best services to families.
Community discussion session
A focused community discussion session was held with the families of victims of forcibly disappeared people in Kirkuk Governorate for the purpose of discussing the most important needs needed by the families of forcibly disappeared and missing victims within an action map project implemented with a group of civil society organizations and with the support of Impunity Watch - Impunity Watch
The Nineveh Women's Organization held a focused meeting with families of victims of enforced disappearance in Nineveh
As part of our project “Action Map” to end the suffering of the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq, a small meeting was held with the aim of encouraging the participation of victims to develop concepts and plans for the action map, which was held in Nineveh Governorate.
The Nineveh Women's Organization holds its second session for the project to end the suffering of the families of victims of missing persons in Nineveh
Within the project to end the suffering of the families of missing victims, which is implemented by a group of organizations in a number of Iraqi governorates, the Nineveh Women’s Organization held a focused session on Saturday, 7/13/2024, with a number of victims’ families to discuss the challenges and problems they face. This session comes as part of the Justice and Redress Charter Project, which aims to shed light on the issues of victims and their families and work to find appropriate solutions for them. The session witnessed an open dialogue and constructive discussions, where the main challenges facing the families of the victims were reviewed, in addition to providing recommendations to the government and civil society organizations to support them and provide them with justice.
Tadarak Organization holds its second session for the project to end the suffering of the families of missing persons victims in Dhuluiya
The Tadarak Organization for Human Rights and Democracy held its second session within the project “Action Map to End the Suffering of the Families of Victims of the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared,” on Sunday, July 14, 2024, in Al-Dhuluiya District. The goal of the members of the Tadrak Organization is to identify the needs of the victims’ families, and to diagnose the problems and obstacles they face in their case. It is noteworthy that the project is a joint project between the Tadrak Organization, the Nineveh Women’s Organization, the Raja Organization, and the Deira Organization, in addition to the Al-Haq Foundation, and they work in four governorates.
Al-Haq Organization for Human Rights holds a hearing in the Al-Baghdadi district, “west of Anbar,” with the aim of shedding light on the needs and challenges of the families of missing and forcibly disappeared people in the district.
A group of victims’ families participated in the session, who presented their opinions and poignant experiences with loss. The meeting aims to enhance our understanding of the special needs of families of missing persons and the psychological and social effects of the loss of loved ones, and to work to improve mechanisms and procedures related to the file of missing and forcibly disappeared persons. Through this session, we seek to develop effective policies that ensure support for families and provide them with the necessary information. Participants presented a set of recommendations that contribute to justice for the victims and perpetuating the memory of their loved ones. We extend our sincere thanks to the administration of Al-Baghdadi district and those in charge of it for their cooperation in the success of this session.
Al Raja Organization holds a community discussion session in the Hawija District of Kirkuk Governorate, with the aim of identifying the needs and most important problems suffered by the families of missing and forcibly disappeared people in the Hawija District and its affiliated villages.
The session was attended by a group of victims' families who shared their touching stories regarding the loss of their loved ones, especially women who lost their husbands and whose families became without a breadwinner. The meeting aims to map the needs of the families of the missing and the effects resulting from loss and disappearance, and to work on improving the psychological and social situation of the victims' families and strengthening the legislation of laws that do justice to the victims. The goal of these sessions is also to identify the needs of the victims' families in order to build a joint work map that aims to achieve the aspirations of the victims' families. The victims' families expressed their thanks to those in charge of this session and that this type of session opens up horizons for developing a set of solutions that may lead to alleviating the suffering of the victims' families. It is also worth noting that the third of August is the annual anniversary of the Yazidi massacre.
The Human Rights Organization is held in New York City to highlight the basics and challenges of families of missing and forcibly disappeared people from different regions.
This session was an opportunity for the families of the victims to share their poignant personal experiences and opinions about the suffering of loss they are experiencing. The meeting aims to enhance our deep understanding of the psychological and social needs faced by the families of the missing, as well as the psychological and social effects resulting from the absence of their loved ones. Through this session, we seek to improve the mechanisms and procedures related to the file of missing and forcibly disappeared persons, and to develop effective policies that ensure the provision of the necessary support to affected families. The participants in the session presented a set of recommendations aimed at achieving justice for the victims and keeping the memory of their loved ones alive in public memory. These recommendations represent... An important step towards achieving justice for the families of missing persons and ensuring that their suffering is not forgotten.
Raja Organization held the second training within a series of training for the Lobbying and Advocacy Committee in Kirkuk for the purpose of developing the skills of the committee members in order to advocate for the families of victims of the forcibly disappeared and missing persons in Kirkuk.
The training witnessed great interaction from the families of the victims participating in the training, because the most prominent results presented how to help victims in a way that enables them to recover, as well as organized pressure for their cause in cooperation and partnership with Impunity Watch - Impunity Watch.
(First Defender Campaign) within the Action Map Project to End the Suffering of the Families of the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared,
Nineveh Women's Organization paid a visit to Mr. Mohammed Aref Al-Shabaki, Head of the Compensation Committee in Nineveh Provincial Council. This visit came within the framework of the organization's efforts to support the rights of victims' families and provide them with the necessary support in Nineveh. During the meeting, a number of problems and challenges facing victims' families during the promotion of compensation transactions were discussed, which constitute a major obstacle to obtaining their legitimate rights. Among the issues raised were: slow procedures, lack of information and awareness, and the complexities of administrative routine. The discussion also touched on the policy paper launched by the organization last December on "Women and Redress in Nineveh Governorate". This paper focuses on the various dimensions of justice and redress for victims' families, with a particular focus on the role of women in this context and the need to provide them with the necessary support to enhance their ability to recover and participate effectively in society. Through these efforts, Nineveh Women's Organization aims to enhance cooperation with the relevant authorities, achieve tangible progress in the field of supporting and compensating victims' families, and ensure that they obtain their rights in full and fairly. We look forward to achieving more successes in this framework and promoting justice for all.
(Second Defender Campaign) within the Action Map Project to End the Suffering of the Families of the Missing and Forcibly Disappeared,
A delegation from the Nineveh Women's Organization visited Judge Raed Al-Muslih, President of the Nineveh Court of Appeal. During the meeting, the delegation presented to the judge the policy paper prepared by the organization on women and reparations in Nineveh Governorate, "Restoring Attention to Victims' Equity", which represents the summary of sessions and interviews conducted with women victims. This paper highlights the challenges and problems facing women in the compensation file, including the complexity of procedures and the lack of consideration for the specificity of cases. The delegation also discussed with the judge a number of proposed solutions to facilitate the compensation procedures, most notably giving priority to women in investigation cases, establishing a detailed database in which compensation transactions are sorted based on gender, in addition to providing legal counseling services to victims. These proposals are part of the efforts of the Nineveh Women's Organization to promote women's rights and ensure that they receive the justice they deserve. In conclusion, the Nineveh Women's Organization extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to Judge Raed Al-Muslih for the warm welcome and his direct support to achieve justice and redress for victims' families.
On the occasion of the International Day of Victims of Enforced Disappearances We organized a solidarity stand with the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq
The capital, Baghdad, witnessed Nineveh Governorate, Anbar Governorate, and Salah al-Din
Today, 8/30/2024, a solidarity stand included hundreds of victims’ families, supported by a number of civil society organizations, activists, human rights defenders, and representatives of the press and media, coinciding with the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance.
The protest included a statement issued by the families of the victims, demanding that the fate of their relatives be revealed, redress and reparation for their harm, the perpetrators be held accountable, and the enactment of a law criminalizing enforced disappearance.
The stand comes within the activities of the project “Action Map to End the Suffering of Families of Victims of Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons in Iraq,” which is implemented by a number of civil society organizations active in the issue.
Stories of victims and families of victims of enforced disappearance
During the stand in solidarity with the families of the victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in order to ensure that their voices are heard
We came across the story of the girl's struggle from the city of Mosul
When her father went missing when she was several months old
Her mother got married and left her months-old daughter with her grandmother. Today, she is seven years old.
Nidal participated in the solidarity stand in the city of Mosul in order to find out the fate of her father, and she will not lose hope for his return, and work is still continuing to support them to achieve justice and reveal the fate of the missing.
The second story
The story of Asia from Al-Azrakiya, Anbar Governorate
In 2016, she lost fifteen members of her family, as well as many of her cousins and uncles, meaning approximately thirty members of her family were lost.
As Asia became the breadwinner for her family, working hard as a housewife and practicing agriculture at the same time to support her family, but she did not lose hope that her family members would return.
She will continue to work to help her family until the fate of her relatives is revealed
Her interest in working with women of the forcibly disappeared continues, and she waits every year for the International Day in Support of Victims of Enforced Disappearance in order to participate in the solidarity stand so that her voice and the voice of women can be heard. She hopes that the relevant authorities will intensify their efforts to work to improve their situation.
Asia avoids talking about the pain she went through as much as she wants to talk about the opportunities and hope she encounters, continuing to improve her situation, demanding justice, and revealing the fate of the missing.
Because art is the highest type of art; Tadrak Organization organizes an art exhibition that embodies the issues of the disappeared
Tadarak Organization for Human Rights and Democracy organized an art exhibition entitled “Eternal Glimpses” to embody the issues of the disappeared.
and forcibly missing persons,
Within the activities of the project “Action Map to End the Suffering of the Families of Victims of Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Persons in Iraq”
A consultative session with the families of victims of missing and forcibly disappeared people in Anbar Governorate,
As part of the “Research to Uncover the Truth” project, Al-Haq Foundation for Human Rights organized a consultative session with the families of victims of the missing and forcibly disappeared in Anbar Governorate, in the presence of the member of the provincial council, Mr. Adnan Al-Kubaisi. The session was dedicated to discussing the advanced results of the research study entitled “Enforced Disappearance in Iraq - A Study of the Reality of the Families of Victims of Enforced Disappearance in Anbar Governorate”, where the research methodology was presented from the social and psychological aspects, with the opportunity for families to express their opinions and share their personal experiences. This session aims to include the opinions and experiences of families in facing the social, economic, and legal events that accompanied the loss of their loved ones, and to focus on the challenges facing families living without a breadwinner. It also sought to create a safe and supportive environment, especially for women who face double difficulties in the absence of men. Women, in turn, play a pivotal role in following up on the ongoing search for the missing, which is a long-term process that is not without hope. The focus was on the importance of enabling them to express their feelings and personal experiences at this sensitive stage, amidst strenuous efforts to provide the necessary support for them and their families in facing these difficult circumstances.
(Third Advocacy Campaign) Within our project “Action Map” to end the suffering of the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq
A delegation from the Nineveh Women's Organization visited
Dr. Ahmed Al-Hasoud, Chairman of Nineveh Provincial Council, the delegation included a number of women who are mothers of missing persons whose sons were kidnapped by ISIS terrorist gangs. During the meeting, Dr. Al-Hasoud listened to the suffering of the mothers and the challenges they face in the journey of searching for their sons and revealing their fate, and they presented a recommendations paper that includes the most prominent problems and difficulties that stand in their way in their efforts to restore their rights and know the fate of their sons. For his part, Dr. Al-Hasoud stressed the council's commitment to making the necessary efforts to cooperate with the relevant authorities to support these humanitarian issues and work to achieve justice, and expressed his appreciation for the steadfastness of the mothers, stressing the importance of addressing this issue from its humanitarian and legal aspects, and ensuring that such tragedies are not repeated in the future.
(The Fourth Advocacy Campaign) within our project “Action Map” to end the suffering of the families of victims of enforced disappearance and missing persons in Iraq
As part of the Action Map Project to End the Suffering of the Families of Missing and Forcibly Disappeared Victims, implemented by the Nineveh Women's Organization with the support of the Dutch Ambience Watch, we visited the Nineveh Police Command. During the visit, we met with the Police Commander, Major General Falah Al-Jarba, in the presence of Dr. Mohammed Iqbal Al-Saydali, Advisor to the Prime Minister. We presented the policy paper on women and reparations in Nineveh: Restoring attention to fair victims, and discussed the importance and role of police stations in helping affected women by facilitating the procedures for filing complaints to obtain fair compensation.
Central session in Baghdad
A central session was held in Baghdad to discuss the “results of the focus group sessions and the final form of the action map” on the missing persons file. Discussions centered on the “Action Map to End the Suffering of the Families of Victims of Enforced Disappearance and the Missing in Iraq” and addressed the challenges and needs facing victims. The importance of focusing on the future aspirations of victims’ families was a major theme, as it was emphasized that strategies should be developed to ensure their support and the achievement of justice should be developed. Practical steps were also proposed to enhance cooperation between the relevant parties to ensure the effective implementation of this map. The session also included an analysis of the reality of the missing and its impact on their families, which calls for urgent measures to ensure their rights and needs.
Central discussion session in "Sulaymaniyah"
Discussions focused on the “Action Map to End the Suffering of Families of Victims of Enforced Disappearance and Missing Persons in Iraq.” The session focused on the importance of enhancing cooperation between different parties to create an integrated support environment, while proposing practical solutions to support the missing persons file. The issues of missing persons were also addressed and the challenges they face were explored, with the aim of finding effective mechanisms to alleviate their suffering.