Recently returned from Baghdad, Terry Rockefeller (September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows) and Michael Zweig (U.S. Labor Against the War) reported on the 10th Annual Meeting of the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI).
If you missed this UFPJ National Briefing Call, you can listen to a recording here.
The ICSSI conference brought together more that 180 Iraqis from all parts of Iraq–the Kurdistan region, the western provinces, and Basra and the south–and 50 internationals from 15 different countries.
Discussion focused on the major challenges Iraqi society faces. Following years of sustained nonviolence protest, Iraqis highlighted important progress made by activists in critical areas:
- Water and environmental crisis
- Workers’ rights
- Women’s participation and leadership;
- Rebuilding communities following the expulsion of Daesh (ISIS);
- Sports and arts against violence;
- Promoting Iraqi heritage.
Iraqi activists also emphasized the threats they face. Protest movements in Basra and Sulaymaniyah regularly encounter repression and violence at the hands of armed groups backed by some political parties. Across the country, human rights defenders are endangered and ask the international community to stand by them. Workers’ also ask for solidarity in defense of their freedom of association and right to strike.
