ADV.POLICY

Key Takeaways 

• IS purposefully undermined social cohesion between various communities in Bashiqa. • Though IS was vanquished years ago, miscommunication and hostility persisted among the various communities. • Each ethnic group should work to rebuild ties. Sunni leaders need to lead in reaching out to other communities. Policies should reinforce that IS' violent activities do not speak for local Sunni Muslims. • This region now has a historic opportunity to work at rebuilding social cohesion. READ MORE

In the Nineveh Plains, the main concern for youth is their exclusion from decision-making processes by both political and community leaders. The Nineveh Plains have yet to fully recover from the various political and economic hardships they experienced under the Islamic State (IS). Yet despite being most affected by these issues, young people have been significantly neglected and/or excluded from decision-making processes, particularly on matters that directly concern them, such as a lack of employment opportunities, lack of community support, lack of freedom of expression, and uncertainty about the future of the region. READ MORE

Perhaps, the main issues of social cohesion in Hamdaniya are the fear of a dramatic demographic change that may take place in the Christians community whether in Qaraqosh or Bartella, as well as the continuous migration of Christian community from their land to other countries or other parts of Iraq. In return, finding Shabaks and Kakais communities insisting on having the right to move and live in cities of Qaraqosh and Barttela. These issues divide the society and hinder activities aiming at restoring social cohesion, and strengthening relations between communities, post IS era. READ MORE