An overview of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization's (HHRO) participation in activities related to return migration and returnees
Photo from the RWG monthly meeting
On Tuesday, October 31, 2023, the monthly Return Working Group (RWG) meeting was held in the IOM Conference Room in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This monthly meeting brings together various stakeholders and interested participants involved in return migration, the issues of the returnees and the challenges they face. These meetings are characterized by the presentation of accurate and detailed statistics regarding the numbers, types, and ages of returnees, as well as the regions they have returned from and returned to. The meetings provide a platform for discussing the latest developments and updates related to returnee issues and the associated problems. On behalf of HHRO, Mr. William Warda participated in the meeting.
The agenda of the meeting was:
Introduction and adoption of minutes Review of September minutes,
Context Update:- The Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) Updates: Emergency tracking data related to climate displacement, arrivals to Sinjar and Al- Ba'aj and eviction; and The Global Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Update,
Protection Platform; Presentation Protection Platform Protection Monitoring Report #5 - September 2023,
The Durable Solutions Technical Working Group (DSTWG) Update; Durable solutions (DS) updates,
AOB.
The Global Stakeholder Consultations meeting invitation
Mr. Warda also presented on the Global Stakeholder Consultations on the second round of Regional Reviews of the Global Compact on Migration Zoom meeting, held on the first of November 2023 under the supervision of the UN Network on Migration.
Such activities play a crucial role in enhancing the knowledge of the HHRO research team and keeping researchers up-to-date with the latest estimates and available information related to return and returnees.
On December 10, 2023, an important virtual Zoom meeting took place for the launch of the Justice Needs and Satisfaction (JNS) Report Iraq. Mr. William Warda, known for his expertise and insights on the justice situation in Iraq, was invited by the Hague Institute for Innovation of Law (HiiL) to participate in this meeting. The purpose of the meeting was to gather the perspectives and input from the participants. Mr. Warda, during his participation, submitted a comprehensive presentation containing his comments and reflections on the main findings and recommendations of the JNS Report.
The meeting was organized by the JNS team, a group dedicated to assessing and improving justice systems around the world. Mr. Warda's presence added immense value to the discussions, as he brought his in-depth knowledge and experience in Iraq's justice landscape to the table.
Photo taken during the Zoom meeting for the launching of the JNS Report Iraq
According to the report, the study of the needs in the field of justice and the related satisfaction level of forcibly displaced persons in Iraq reveals systematic methodological challenges in accessing justice. More than 50% of the individuals interviewed encountered one or more significant legal issues in the past four years.
Very few of these legal problems are actually resolved, highlighting the prominent dimension of the access to justice gap for forcibly displaced persons in Iraq. Only 15% of the displaced persons' problems are fully or partially resolved, while 22% of the refugees' problems are considered to be completely or partially resolved. The situation is similar for host communities of the displaced. Even fewer problems reach a resolution that is considered fair.