Context:
The Islamic State’s military campaign in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of people and more than three million internally displaced persons and refugees. Large areas of northern Iraq are in ruins. Many survivors and relatives of victims are extremely traumatised. The United Nations Investigative Team for the Promotion of Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh/ISIL (UNITAD) has begun investigating the serious crimes that IS has committed against Yazidis as well as members of other ethnic-religious groups.
Although IS has been defeated, it has gone underground, remains active as an organisation, and continues to commit terrorist attacks. The Iraqi Government’s response involves mass arrests and anti-terrorism procedures. However, not a single IS member in Iraq has been charged with war crimes or crimes against humanity, let alone genocide. More than 4,000 former IS child soldiers, as well as thousands of wives of IS members and their children, are also imprisoned in huge detention centres where the Human Rights Watch has labelled the imprisonment conditions as inhumane. Tens of thousands of families who are suspected of belonging to IS are stuck in camps as internally displaced persons. There is a risk that these people could become radicalised – in some cases once more.
In northern Iraq, there is also considerable tension between Shiite militias, who are affiliated with the Iraqi army, and the Sunni-Arab population. Conflicts between Iraq’s central government and the Kurdish regional government regarding land and access to resources such as oil and water have also yet to be resolved. Minorities’ trust in the state as well as trust between the ethnic-religious groups is badly damaged. The current dispute between the United States and neighbouring Iran is also causing continued unrest in Iraq.
As a consequence, the majority of internally displaced persons do not want to return to their home regions yet. Many Iraqi youths have given up hope of peace, democratic participation and prosperity; they are frustrated and despairing. Iraqi women are being driven back to the sidelines in society, business and politics.
Objective:
Surviving victims of IS crimes receive appropriate psychosocial support. Former IS child soldiers and the children of IS members are rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. Young men and women from various ethnic-religious groups contribute to the peaceful and democratic development of Iraq and are creating a shared identity as Iraqi citizens.
Approach:
The Civil Peace Service (CPS) supports and advises state and civil society organisations in Iraq that deal with IS crimes and work on peaceful and democratic development. This is done essentially by assigning international experts, providing financial support for activities, and generating synergies with other German cooperation programmes in Iraq. Examples of key CPS activities are given below:
• The Commission for Investigation and Gathering Evidence (CIGE) in Dohuk (Kurdistan Region of Iraq) is supported in documenting IS crimes, improving the quality of information for survivors and family members of victims, and in cooperating with the relevant United Nations commission.
• The Yazidi non-governmental organisation YAZDA and other civil society groups of other religions and minorities provide support for survivors and family members of IS victims in their quest for justice.
• The Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights is forming a civil society ‘coalition for just reparations’ and supports corresponding efforts of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Iraq.
• The Institute of Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology, which offers a Master’s degree, is supported in networking with state and civil society groups that provide psychosocial services for traumatised internally displaced persons.
• The young offenders institution in Dohuk has allowed access to one international and one national expert from CPS to teach former IS child soldiers of Sunni-Arab origin football, life and social skills and personal commitment. The two experts also work together with the partner Better World Organization in an IDP camp near Dohuk with families that maintained ties with IS for a time.
• The Iraqi Law Firm works with key figures from the government and administration, legislation and justice on the social rehabilitation of former IS child soldiers.
• A peace expert is training young people from the small town of Alqosh and a religiously diverse group of youths from Sulaymaniyah in southern Kurdistan to work as guides for peace tourism.
Results:
CPS has advised various stakeholders in the Iraqi Government and civil society who support the victims of IS crimes in their quest for justice:
• CIGE in Dohuk has collected more than 2,500 criminal complaints and witness statements from survivors of IS and the relatives of missing persons. It has already given UNITAD more than 1,400 blood samples from the relatives of missing persons.
• The Yazidi non-governmental organisation YAZD has aided in identifying IS fighters who have secretly returned to Europe and bringing them to court.
• With two international conferences, the Institute of Psychotherapy and Psychotraumatology has contributed to raising the profile of topics such as traumatisation of survivors in society and among political decision-makers.
• Iraqi judges increasingly apply juvenile law in cases against former child soldiers under the anti-terrorism law, which results in more lenient sentences. A reform of both pieces of legislation is being discussed in Iraq’s Parliament.
• A deficient draft law for recognition of Yazidi women held by IS as sex slaves is being revised with the involvement of those affected and international experts.
• Almost all former IS child soldiers in the young offenders institution in Dohuk have been released. The rehabilitation activities implemented by CPS have at least made a contribution. Ordinary young Kurdish offenders have also benefited from this.