The key mission of the advocacy group is to contribute to the achievement of the overall objectives of the project “Support to Traditional Cultural Practices in Northern Iraq” supported by LASER PULSE and the USA Agency for International Development (USAID) through advocacy efforts, including cultural awareness meetings and activities with local communities, political and administrative actors as well as other humanitarian, development and peacebuilding actors. The goal is to create awareness among these actors of the project’s objectives, support project activities, and adapt culturally sensitive approaches in their practices and policy decisions.

The Advocacy Group began activities within this project in August 2022 mainly in three study areas, including Hamdanyia district, Talkief district, and Bashiqa sub-district. The targeted area is known as one of the most diverse areas in Iraq, where different religions and ethnicities live, including, Yazidies, Christians, Shabaks, Turkemens, and Kakais. Furthermore, Nineveh Plains was targeted by IS from 2014 to 2017, aiming at disrupting the fabric of society. Then, the main concern that IS left is believed to be with social cohesion and peaceful coexistence among ethnic and religious groups in the area. Our plan has been set up to address issues of social cohesion in the area post-IS era, and then work on providing proper solutions.

THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE ADVOCACY TEAM:

1-    Dissemination of the whole project among the main stakeholders, including government and key actors in the community.

2-    Increasing awareness of minority communities on the cultural practices of all minority communities, as well as discovering what exactly each area needs regarding coexistence and trust building between different ethnic and religious groups. This cultural wariness is crucial in addressing the social and economic discriminations stemming from a lack of understanding or misconceptions that undermine social cohesion among minority groups, as well as the sustainability of cultural and agricultural practices.

3-    Addressing the identified problems that affect social cohesion and related proper solutions via writing policy recommendations to local government and related stakeholders, as well as via publishing academic researches.

THE MAIN ACTIVITIES AND PRODUCTS OF THE ADVOCACY TEAM – SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022.

1-      Dialogue and Key Informant Meetings: 

conducting over 140 dialog meetings with a number of key actors in the area, aiming at introducing the project where the key findings of phase 1, as well as identifying key issues related to social cohesion among various communities.

2-      Awareness and Accountability Sessions:

 Conduct six accountability sessions in the three main areas of the study, where representatives of all the communities attended the session, aiming at discussing issues of social cohesion, as well as providing proper solutions to the identified issues. These sessions did not only include the three main areas, but also covered the youth role in the community, farmer’s association role, and NGOs role. Following the session, our group produced a number of practical recommendations for the decision-makers in the area.  

3-      Cultural exhibition in Alqosh:

 organizing the cultural exhibition “Our Strength is in Our Diversity” in Alqosh on January 10, 2023, where artists, painters and cultural music groups from different ethnic and religious groups across Nineveh plains participated and displayed their artwork and culture. Over 100 personalities from Nineveh Province and Duhok Province took part in the event, including Duhok and Nineveh official representatives, the president of the UoD, farmers, key figures, and community leaders.

4-      Radio programs:

 recording three radio programs on the “voice of peace” radio in Qaraqosh, where issues related to peacebuilding and social cohesion regarding the three study areas were discussed properly. These records have been used in the dissemination campaign on social media as part of awareness.

5-        Policy Briefs: 

these policy briefs relate to the issues of social cohesion and trust building, which provide the policymakers with recommendations to take action.

6-      Awareness and Education Posters: 

producing a number of posters introducing different communities, as well as on the role of religions and culture in enhancing the culture of peaceful coexistence among different communities. 

7-      Educational and Awareness Videos: 

Producing a number of videos on the role of cooperation in achieving peace and prosperity, and how to enhance social cohesion and trust building.  

8-      Writing Academic Papers: 

writing different academic papers on various issues related to social cohesion, trust, and peacebuilding in the Nineveh Plains.

9-      Dissemination Events of the Advocacy Group: 

The team participated in the following events:  

-          Alqush Exhibition 10 January 2023.

-          PeaceCon, May 2023 Alliance for Peacebuilding.

-          First and Second Project Conference University of Duhok.

-          Washington D.C. disseminating event, June 2023.

The advocacy group produced many videos in relation to enhancing the culture of peaceful coexistence, accountability sessions, and Alqosh art and cultural exhibition. 

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The advocacy group organized numerous accountability sessions for the local communities in the Nineveh Plains. These sessions were designed to promote social cohesion by bringing together diverse ethnoreligious groups residing in the area, fostering dialogue and collaborative discussions to address their shared challenges. 

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The Islamic State group (IS) left Talkief in 2017, leaving behind fractured social cohesion and coexistence among ethnic an religious groups in the area. A dramatic demographic change occurred in the center of the city. Where previously most families were Christians, now, only a few remain. Meanwhile, the Christian community nationwide continues to migrate away from Iraq. This drastic demographic shift may hinder attempts to restore peaceful coexistence. This policy brief addresses issues of social cohesion and the variables that promote or inhibit trust, and recommends new policies for the area that may mitigate tensions READ MORE

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The Advocacy team produced a series of radio programs on social cohesion in the Nineveh Plains, broadcasted on the Voice of Peace Radio. 

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The Advocacy Group created seven posters, some of which serve as educational tools, defining religious and ethnic groups in the Nineveh Plains. Additionally, there are promotional posters emphasizing the role of religions and cooperation in fostering peaceful coexistence. 

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