Institute For International Law And Human Rights

HELPS STATES STRENGTHEN THE RULE OF LAW & BUILD RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS.

ENERGIZING REFORM AND EMPOWERING VULNERABLE GROUPS IN IRAQ - WITH OUR PARTNERS CEASEFIRE CENTRE FOR CIVILIAN RIGHTS AND PAX, IILHR OVERSEES A PROJECT THAT CAPITALIZES ON ONGOING INITIATIVES AND THE CURRENT ENVIRONMENT, BUILDS CONSENSUS THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND OUTREACH TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY VIOLENCE, GIVING VULNERABLE GROUPS A SAY IN THE PROCESS AND BROAD-BASED CONSULTATIONS. THIS PROJECT DEEPENS CITIZENSHIP AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION THROUGH STRONGER LAWS THAT IMPLEMENT IRAQ'S CONSTITUTION AND PROMOTES INCLUSIVENESS AND ACCOUNTABILITY, BUILDS DIALOGUE AND CONSENSUS AROUND LEGISLATIVE AND GRASSROOTS PRIORITIES, AND STRENGTHENS RESEARCH, TECHNICAL AND ADVOCACY SKILLS TO EMPOWER LOCAL AND VULNERABLE GROUPS.

SUPPORTING BETTER EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES FOR THE IRAQI JUDICIARY - THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS HAS THREE MAIN OBJECTIVES IN OUR PROGRAM SUPPORTING BETTER EVIDENCE BASED APPROACHES FOR THE IRAQI JUDICIARY:1. BUILD CONSENSUS ON CRITICAL THINKING ABOUT EVIDENCE USED IN ANTI-TERROR AND OTHER TRIALS THAT SHARES INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF IRAQI INVESTIGATIVE AND TRIAL JUDGES;2. DEVELOP TOOLS THAT COMMUNICATE THESE STANDARDS AND POLICY CHANGES WITH THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY, SUCH AS GUIDELINES TO SPEED TRIALS MORE EFFECTIVELY; AND3. SUPPORT A JUDICIARY THAT BETTER RESPECTS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, PROVIDES BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR THE ACCUSED, AND BETTER REVIEW OF EVIDENCE THROUGH TRAINING OF THE COURT OF CASSATION JUDGES AND OTHER SENIOR JURISTS; MAKING THE JUDICIARY MORE EFFICIENT AND ACCELERATING TRIALS.AN UNDER-RESOURCED IRAQI JUDICIARY HAS LABORED FOR YEARS UNDER THE WEIGHT OF PROSECUTING THOUSANDS OF CASES IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DAESH WAR. MANY OF THESE CASES RELY ON CONFESSIONS, USE ANONYMOUS WITNESS ACCOUNTS AS EVIDENCE, AND ARE PROSECUTED DRAWING ON A BROAD "ANTI-TERROR" LEGAL FRAMEWORK THAT UNDERMINES CONFIDENCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS. BY ADDRESSING THESE CONDITIONS, PROMOTING BETTER EVALUATION OF EVIDENCE IN THE COURT OF CASSATION, AND BETTER INCORPORATING INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY CAN BUILD A JUDICIARY THAT BETTER RESPECTS INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTIONS FOR THE ACCUSED, AND SERVE AS AN EXAMPLE FOR THE NATION.

ENSURING IRAQI CITIZEN ACCESS TO IDENTITY DOCUMENTS - THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN RIGHTS (IILHR), IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ENMAA CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND STUDIES (ECRS), IS EMBARKING ON A RESEARCH AND POLICY INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO ENHANCE THE ABILITY OF IRAQI CITIZENS - PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTED BY THE RECENT CONFLICT - TO ACCESS LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTS. TO SUPPORT OUR ANALYSIS, THE STUDY WILL RELY ON INTERVIEWS WITH STAKEHOLDERS, AND WILL INCLUDE QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS AND FOCUS GROUP DISCUSSIONS, STRUCTURED AROUND KEY THEMES. RESULTS WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST A SET OF BENCHMARKS DRAWN FROM MULTIPLE SOURCES AS WELL AS CONSULTATION WITH IRAQI AND INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS. THE PROJECT COVERS SEVERAL GOVERNORATES, INCLUDING DOHUK, ERBIL, NINEWA, ANBAR, SALAH AL-DIN, KIRKUK, DIYALA, BAGHDAD, KARBALA, AND BABIL. THE EFFORT AIMS TO: 1. OUTLINE THE EXISTING LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON IRAQI LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING COMPILING AND ANALYZING EXISTING LAWS, AS WELL AS NEW POLICIES, DIRECTIVES, JUDICIAL DECISIONS, AND RULINGS ISSUED SINCE 2014, INCLUDING THE UNIFIED ID CARD. 2. COMPREHENSIVELY MAP AND COMPARE EXISTING PROCEDURES TO ACCESS FORMS OF LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTS ACROSS RELEVANT GOVERNORATES INCLUDING IDENTIFYING VARIOUS DECISION MAKERS IN THE PROCESS. THIS PART OF THE PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY BEST PRACTICES, PROCESS BOTTLENECKS, AND CAPACITY CHALLENGES. 3. PROFILE A DIVERSE RANGE OF LEGAL IDENTITY AND CIVIL DOCUMENTATION-RELATED CASES ACROSS VARIOUS DISPLACEMENT STATUSES, GENDER, AGE, AND ETHNO-RELIGIOUS IDENTITIES IN EACH GOVERNORATE, WITH THE AIM OF ILLUSTRATING CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES.4. WITH IRAQI AUTHORITIES, INITIATE AND FOLLOW UP ON SUSTAINED CONSULTATIONS TO DEVELOP CONCRETE, ACTIONABLE POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN BE ADOPTED AND IMPLEMENTED, INCLUDING SUPPORTING UNIFIED ID CARD ISSUANCE.