The Rights Advance: Improving Fundamental Freedoms and Human Rights in Iraq is a comprehensive 30-month project that will be implemented by the Arab Institute for Human Rights (AIHR), Search for Common Ground (Search), and the Iraqi al-Amal Association (IAA). This project aims to contribute to the improvement of the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Iraq, with an emphasis on critical human rights issues. The project aims to encourage constructive collaboration and discussion in a restrictive civic environment through engaging both human rights defenders (HRDs) and national duty bearers.
The primary goal is to improve the protection and promotion of fundamental freedoms, particularly the rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly. The project aims to create an improved enabling environment for human rights by addressing knowledge gaps, improving collaboration between HRDs and duty bearers, and strengthening civil society to effectively advocate for human rights protection.
The project takes a human rights-based and equality approach, guided by the PANEL principles. Capacity building is central, with an emphasis on advanced training and promoting effective government-civil society relations. To address complex issues, an interdisciplinary approach brings together multiple types of expert perspectives. The project is based on Search’s Common Ground Approach (CGA), which promotes non-confrontational dialogue and collaboration between HRDs and duty bearers.
Expected Outcomes
The project aims to significantly change the environment of human rights advocacy in Iraq. Expected outcomes include increased public awareness and understanding of human rights issues, improved advocacy efforts, and better interactions between civil society actors and duty bearers. The project will also help to build a more informed and active civil society, creating an environment in which fundamental freedoms are better protected and promoted.
Key Achievements
The project’s key achievements will include training 36 HRDs in non-adversarial advocacy and creative human rights filmmaking, producing five short films highlighting human rights issues, and organizing two annual human rights film festivals. The project will also implement ten public awareness campaigns, ten advocacy campaigns, and workshops and symposia to raise the awareness and sensitization of 44 Iraqi duty bearers. Furthermore, thematic briefs will be created that summarize the key discussions and outcomes of the public symposia, providing insightful knowledge for ongoing human rights advocacy and reform initiatives.
