The 8th September of every year marks a special occasion with the world celebrating International Literacy Day. In 2013, this occasion takes an even deeper significance as this year's celebrations highlight a neglected, yet major aspect: placing education at the heart of development. Under this year's theme, Literacies for the 21st Century, the United Nations […]
More than 75 civil society leaders, government officials, and members of Parliament endorsed today the new policy on relations between the parliament, government, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the Kurdistan Region. A signing ceremony was held at the Canyon Hotel in Erbil to mark adoption of the Compact on Partnership and Development between Public Authorities […]
By John Lee. According to casualty figures released by UNAMI, a total of 804 Iraqis were killed and another 2,030 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in August. The number of civilians killed was 716 (including 106 civilian police), while the number of civilians injured was 1,936 (including 195 civilian police). A further […]
On the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, the United Nations in Iraq is raising awareness of the plight of the 1.1 million Iraqis who are registered as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), driven to flee because of eviction, urbanization, conflict or political strife. “IDPs are among Iraq’s most vulnerable populations,” said Jacqueline Badcock, United Nations Deputy […]
Vulnerable groups in southern Iraq will soon be able to access free legal services directly from the Basrah Justice Palace. “By establishing a legal help desk directly inside the Basrah Justice Palace, we are minimising the time and money spent by vulnerable groups to seek legal assistance,” said Rini Reza, chief of the UN Development […]
Minister Falah Mustafa received Mr Sarbast Mustafa, Head of the Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq (IHEC), and Mr Sokol Kondi, Head of UNAMI in Erbil today to discuss preparations for the upcoming elections. Kurdistan Region is due to hold parliamentary and provincial elections this year in September and November respectively. The meeting comes as […]
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari has discussed Iraq's relations with the United Nations and its assistance mission in Iraq (UNAMI) with Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Jeffrey Feltman. During the meeting, the two sides discussed the UNAMI activities in Iraq and the Iraqi government's keenness on facilitating UNAMI's work. The Minister expressed the government's appreciation for […]
According to casualty figures released today by UNAMI, a total of 1,057 Iraqis were killed and another 2,326 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence in July. The number of civilians killed was 928 (including 204 civilian police), while the number of civilians injured was 2,109 (including 338 civilian police). A further 129 members […]
On Wednesday, the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) until 31st July 2014, so it can "continue to advise and support the country, which has been hit by the worst violence in years, to progress on the path to stability and development". In a unanimously […]
The Acting Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq (A-SRSG), Mr. Gyorgy Busztin, has condemned in the strongest terms the assassination on 22 July of the Head of the Arab bloc in the Kirkuk Provincial Council and Deputy Chairman of the Provincial Council Security Committee, Sheikh Abdallah Sami Al-Assi, and two of his […]
By John Lee. Iraq has officially requested the UN Security Council to extend the term of UNAMI in Iraq for another year, reports Aswat al-Iraq. The request was submitted by Iraqi ambassador Mohammed Ali al-Hakeem to the United Nations. He requested that UNAMI will have logistic assistance to provide adequate observers for the coming parliamentary […]
At the end of this month, Martin Kobler will finish his two-year term as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Special Representative for Iraq, and Head of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI). While his tenure has not been without controversy -- he has, for example, been strongly criticised by some for his handling of […]
