Protection

Registration of refugees and asylum-seekers

UNHCR in Iraq issues asylum seeker certificates to people seeking international protection. Furthermore, UNHCR supports the Permanent Committee for Refugees of the Ministry of Interior in registering refugees and asylum seekers and facilitates access to humanitarian residency permits issued by the Kurdistan Regional Government for refugees and asylum seekers in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. UNHCR’s registration activities are a key protection intervention for refugees and asylum seekers; registration mitigates the risk of detention, restrictions on movement, and refoulement. Registration also enables eligible refugees access to public services.

UNHCR supported The Ministry of Interior (MOI) mission to Anbar to address the need for civil documentation of internally displaced (IDPs) originating from Babylon (the no-return area of Jurf Al Sakhr) who are currently displaced in AAF and Bzeibiz informal sites in Anbar. During the three-day mission, the MOI officers processed 145 nationality certificate applications of IDPs (to be issued within the following weeks). Some 62 applications are on hold (to be processed once the lacking documents are provided by the concerned). The exercise findings indicate that the needs for nationality certificates in Anbar (and other locations within the Center and South) are no longer as acute as for the Unified IDs and/or housing cards (given the ongoing UID reform). And while the IDPs displaced within their governorate (such as in Anbar) can access the respective government offices to obtain housing cards, those from other governorates, and especially from areas blocked for return, such as in Babylon, are not able to obtain the housing cards within their areas of displacement (due to limited political will to locally integrate the IDPs and the declared intention of the federal government “to close the displacement file and return the IDPs”). UNHCR advocacy on UID missions by the MOI is highly needed and appreciated.

Civil documentation

UNHCR supports IDPs, IDP returnees, and other vulnerable populations in obtaining core civil documentation that are critical for accessing basic rights and services, such as birth certificates, nationality certificates, housing cards, and the National Unified ID. Missing civil documentation impedes one’s access to essential public services such as education, healthcare, and social security benefits, such as the Public Distribution System or the social safety net. It can also lead to restricted freedom of movement, increased risk of arrest and detention, exclusion from restitution and reconstruction programs, and the inability to participate in most aspects of civic and political life. Children without birth certificates are at risk of statelessness as they may be unable to prove their Iraqi nationality.

UNHCR and partners coordinate with the Iraqi government to support returnees to renew or obtain new civil documentation. In addition to legal counselling, awareness-raising, and coordination of government mobile documentation missions, UNHCR and partners advocate with government counterparts for the simplification of documentation procedures.

Efforts to end statelessness

In line with UNHCR’s Global Action Plan, and the #IBelong Campaign to end Statelessness by 2024, UNHCR in Iraq advocates and coordinates with the Government of Iraq to end existing cases and prevent future cases of statelessness. Additionally, UNHCR and partners, together with relevant government authorities, provide targeted sensitization campaigns to affected communities on the importance of securing nationality and legal documents, as well as the relevant procedures.

Community Engagement and Accountability

UNHCR has a commitment to the intentional and systematic inclusion of the expressed needs, concerns, capacities, and views of displaced persons in their diversity; and being answerable for our organizational decisions and staff actions, in all protection, assistance and solutions. Across Iraq, UNHCR implements community-based protection programmes through its partners in 28 community centers across Iraq (12 in urban and 16 in camp locations). Community Centers serve as safe spaces for community to meet for social events, recreation, education, livelihood, and vocational training programmes. The centers also operate as two-way communication gateway to receive information and provide their participation in consultations, give suggestions, feedback to UNHCR and Partners on protection services and solutions or raise their concerns through the complaint and feedback mechanism. UNHCR works with diverse community representation structures. Through these, UNHCR conducts community awareness and sensitization on topics of interest to the communities such as access to education, the use of complaint and feedback mechanisms, and protection-related issues and services. These sessions help displaced communities readily obtain key information and facilitate their access to needed services. Community structures also play a key role in the identification of on-going and emerging risks, needs and gaps within their communities and support the identification and access to services and solutions of the most vulnerable individuals and families. Communities can make suggestions and provide feedback to UNHCR on services and assistance by using the complaint and feedback mechanism through the available suggestion box or get in person counseling through the periodical helpdesk exercises at the community centers.

Child protection

UNHCR and its partners provide specialized child protection services to refugee children, including psychosocial support, legal assistance, and advocacy with local authorities and service providers to improve the children’s safety and well-being.

UNHCR also organizes parenting skills training sessions to improve refugee parents’ and caregivers’ understanding of children’s rights, familiarize them with children’s needs, and better equip them to support their children during challenging displacement situations. Moreover, UNHCR holds capacity-building sessions for child protection and youth committees to effectively advocate with their communities on child protection matters and identify community-based solutions.

Since the beginning of 2023, UNHCR has phased out of providing individual child protection services to IDPs, handing over these services to relevant government bodies. To ensure both IDPs and refugees benefit from these services more durably, UNHCR is strengthening the capacity of appropriate national child protection systems, including within the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, as well national civil society youth networks, informal volunteers, activists and community-based organizations.

"I recently underwent examinations at Kawergosk clinic where services + medicines are accessible. It brings me joy that the wellbeing of Iraqis & refugees is taken into consideration"; - Mam Haji, from Erbil

Host communities 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) plays a crucial role in providing assistance and protection to refugees and displaced persons worldwide. In many situations, including Iraq, UNHCR recognizes the importance of supporting not only the displaced populations but also the communities hosting them

UNHCR in Iraq is actively fostering community development by constructing essential infrastructure such as health clinics and schools, and implementing projects that benefit both refugees and the local population. Through the establishment of health facilities, UNHCR ensures access to healthcare for refugees while giving the local community the option to use these facilities, as well. host community. The construction of schools contributes to the education and future prospects of both refugee and local children, fostering social and economic development. Additionally, initiatives like vocational training, infrastructure development, aim to empower individuals, promote self-reliance, and strengthen the social fabric of the entire community.

By implementing such projects that address the broader needs of both refugees and host communities, UNHCR is playing a pivotal role in building resilient and inclusive societies in Iraq.

 

Gender-based violence prevention and response

UNHCR provides refugees (women and girls as well as men and boys) with specialized gender-based violence services, including individual case management and psychosocial support. Meanwhile, since the beginning of 2023, UNHCR has phased out of providing individual gender-based violence services to IDPs as part of its transition to development interventions, handing over these services to relevant government authorities.

In line with this approach, UNHCR’s gender-based violence prevention and response is focused on strengthening the capacity of relevant government service providers such as legal aid and camp management and relevant ministries. UNHCR is also strengthening the capacity of the civil society and different communities on gender-based violence prevention, mainstreaming and response. This support will help these entities deliver higher quality gender-based violence programmes for IDPs, as well as advance the inclusion of refugees and asylum seekers in associated services.