The Iraqi association For Human rights in Basra is working on supporting the electoral process and encouraging citizens to participate in the fields of democracy and elections. The following report attached talks about the current and future activities of the association. It addresses mainly the establishment of electoral awareness seminars to vitalize the role of citizens and their participation in the parliamentary electoral process. Moreover, it addressed primary issues including; administrative corruption, false promises in election campaigns, lack of services, etc. In addition, it includes a ratiocination regarding citizens that refrain from voting or are reluctant to vote. The report also presented solutions to the aforementioned issues. Note: The following report is written in Arabic. 

The Syrian crisis has generated the largest refugee movement since the Rwandan genocide and is described as the defining refugee crisis of our era. Within this refugee population older, disabled and injured refugees face specific challenges that contribute to their vulnerability, yet, studies of humanitarian programming show that these same groups are often neglected in assessments, data collection, design and delivery of responses. Handicap International and HelpAge International, thus, undertook a research project in Jordan and Lebanon between October and November 2013, to highlight the number and needs of Syrian refugees1 living with impairment, injury and chronic disease – referred to in this study as people with specific needs. The research findings, summarised in this document, are based on a…

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) started this month providing emergency food assistance to almost quarter of a million people who have been affected by fighting in Al-Anbar. WFP assistance will aim to reach 48,000 families for six months. The households include internally displaced and vulnerable people in areas with high concentrations of internally displaced persons due to the crisis. “Responding to the crisis in Al-Anbar and meeting the food needs of the most vulnerable during such times is a priority of WFP’s mission in Iraq,” said WFP Representative and Country Director in Iraq, Jane Pearce. Since 15 January 2014, WFP has been assisting families in Al-Anbar governorate with food rations including wheat flour, rice and other staple foods, as…

On 31/3/2014 Kurdistan Civil Rights Organization (KCRO) held a Seminar at the University of Dohuk with presence of a large group of academics ,teachers and students about 'encouraging women and increasing her capabilities in all aspects of life'. In the beginning of the session KCRO's Director shed a light on the most important achievements and projects in supporting women that have been carried out by the Organization for the advancement of women in Kurdistan in general and especially in Dohuk. Then the lecturer started his subject of the seminar about the empowerment of women and enhancing their capabilities and elevating her status, by participating in policy-making and making decisions in all aspects of life, through the generation of environment advocacy…

Dear Friends, We are excited to share information on March activities of the Iraq Foundation. Foundation Updates On March 10, Ms. Selwa Gailani took over the position of Executive Director. Ms. Rend Al-Rahim is now serving as the President of the Iraq Foundation! Read more here. Look for our new website, being launched late April 2014! Project Updates Hewar Initiative to Enhance Judicial Outreach and Transparency Hewar, meaning "dialogue" in Arabic, aims to establish a more transparent and responsive criminal justice system through engaging both the media and citizens to foster greater public awareness of legal rights and the role of courts and trust in judicial processes. Hewar is funded by the US Department of State: Bureau of International Narcotics…

During March, ACDI/VOCA, in coordination with 21 Civil Society Organization (CSO) partners in Dahuk, Diyala, Erbil, Kirkuk, Ninawa, Salah ad Din and Sulaymaniyah provinces hosted ten events in recognition of International Women’s Day which took place on March 8. The events aimed to express solidarity with the global community struggling for women’s equality as well as provide an opportunity to display the achievements and ongoing work of ACDI/VOCA’s partner CSOs that are working towards women’s empowerment and development. In total, 550 people participated in the events which were held throughout the month of March. The participants represented a range of civil society groups and organisations, local, provincial, regional and national government, activists, academia, artists, students, private sector institutions, and communities.…