Iraq and its international partners have made significant gains since the military defeat of ISIS five years ago. Physical and communal rebuilding was set in motion, and the overall focus of the country was for the most part redirected to political engagement and competition instead of wide scale violent conflict. Despite this progress, critical challenges remain. Indeed, a deeper look would show that progress has been uneven, and key vulnerabilities remain. Western Anbar, Jurf al-Sakhr, Sinjar, and Southern Mosul, and parts of Diyala and Salahaddin provinces have a complex mix of domestic, national, and geopolitical dynamics that have made returns difficult, risky, and for many people even impossible. As a result, tens of thousands of Iraqis displaced either inside the country or in Syria and Turkey are unable to return home and have been labeled with the stigma of perceived affiliation with ISIS. Adding to these challenges is the fact that international humanitarian assistance has been winding down. The roundtable convened policy-makers, practitioners, academics, and civil society leaders to provide a deeper assessment of current dynamics, analyze the barriers to return and reintegration, particularly those found in the most difficult cases, and share key lessons learned. The event was developed by IRIS in coordination with the United States Institute of Peace (USIP).
Speakers:
- Auke Lootsma (Resident Representative in Iraq, UNDP)
- Islam Al-Ghazooly (Program Manager, IOM)
- Khalid Abdulkarim (Director, Department of Migration and Displacement in
- Nineveh, Al-Jada’a Rehabilitation Center)
- Sherizaan Minwalla (Human Rights Attorney, MSI)
Moderator:
- Sarhang Hamasaeed (Director, Middle East Program, USIP)
Access the audio of the roundtable here.