Several Iraqi human rights groups have issued a Position Paper on “Climate Change and Environmental Activity in Iraq for the Climate Prospects Campaign”, following consultations with policy-makers, community leaders, and environmental experts in September and October 2023. The Position Paper makes recommendations to the authorities to protect the rights of environmental activists and peaceful protesters to publicize and campaign against the issue of climate-induced forced displacement, while encouraging Iraqi authorities to support the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. The report follows a widespread social media campaign to raise public awareness of the issues.

The Position Paper was prepared by the campaign partners – Continuous Women’s Capacity Development Organization, the Iraqi Women’s Network and Al-Tawahhuj organization for development and human rights – as a subgrant which was a part of a project with the Innovation for Change MENA Hub in partnership with the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR).

The Position Paper notes that, “The impacts of climate change in Iraq have become evident across various levels and sectors, casting shadows on the environment and public life. These effects have worsened due to the country’s unstable conditions and deteriorating infrastructure.”

It continues, “Iraq urgently needs to develop and implement an adaptation plan addressing the impacts of climate change on vital sectors. In response to these challenges, environmental activists, civil society organizations, and volunteer teams have been working to adapt and mitigate the profound effects on various aspects of public life. Simultaneously, environmental initiatives and activists in Iraq face numerous challenges hindering their efforts to achieve sustainable climate outcomes.”

Iraq’s environmental crisis has led to nation-wide protests, including 2018 protests in Basra against water shortages and, more recently, 2023 protests in Dhi Qar against unwarranted violence and excessive use of force against those raising awareness of droughts and mismanagement that has contributed to water scarcity in the region.

Background:

The main objective of this advocacy campaign is to increase public awareness of the rights of climate activists and protecting the rights of environmental activists and peaceful protesters to publicize and campaign against the issue of climate-induced forced displacement and denounce serious human rights violations such as targeted attacks on climate activists in Iraq during peaceful protests, while encouraging Iraqi authorities to support the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. This campaign also actively engages in advocacy aimed at supporting national efforts to formulate a comprehensive national strategy to address climate change issues through the development of this position paper engaging policy-makers, community leaders, and environmental experts.

This position paper was created following consultations and social media campaigns in which the Campaign Partners carried out two online awareness campaigns in Iraq, reaching over 16,000 people to increase the general public understanding of the climate-induced forced displacement issue, the increased need to formulate a national strategy addressing related climate change issues, and to denounce serious human rights violations of targeted attacks on climate activists in Iraq during peaceful protests while encouraging Iraqi authorities to halt these deliberate practices.

The campaign partners also conducted two online consultation meetings with local authorities, civil society organizations, and environmental activists in Iraq to raise their awareness and gather their support and engagement in the formulation of a position paper that effectively addresses climate change challenges in Iraq and the protection of environmental activists and peaceful protesters. The discussion included a number of recommendations for laying down appropriate and feasible solutions to support environmental activists, as well as solutions that civil society can cooperate with the government to reduce the effects of dangerous climate change in Iraq.

You can find out more by checking out an interactive map for documenting and closely monitoring instances of forced displacement triggered by climate change. The platform will enable comprehensive analysis and visualization of the issue, fostering greater awareness among the public and policymakers and shed light on the human rights violations that result from climate change issues in Iraq.

Download the full Position Paper here.

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Innovation for Change is a global network of people and organizations that want to connect, partner and learn together to find positive approaches to overcome barriers to closing civic space and restrictions to our basic freedoms of assembly, association, and speech. running through 7 Innovation Hubs around the world inspired by ideas, methods, and technologies from across sectors, to create solutions that drive positive social change.

The Middle East and North Africa Hub launched its initial activities with the vision to create a free and secured civic space and to build a collaborative, innovative network of activists and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to facilitate the exchange and development of expertise and resources to face the shrinking of civic space focusing one Civic Space, Social Accountability, Civil Society Resourcing, Social innovation, Civic Technology.

The Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) is an independent, non-profit NGO that provides support and protection to human rights defenders (HRDs) in order to promote human rights, including but not limited to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly.

GCHR provides a bridge from the region to the international community by carrying out research, publishing reports and appeals in English and Arabic, providing emergency resources and capacity building training, organising consultations between W/HRDs and experts, carrying out campaigns and advocacy, including at the United Nations and in key Capitals, and coordinating joint actions and live and online human rights events with local partners and international allies.