EUAM Iraq launches civil society strategy with international partners

The European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq) launched on 20 March the “EUAM IRAQ STRATEGY FOR ENGAGING WITH CIVIL SOCIETY”, as part of the European Union’s comprehensive approach to civilian security sector reform.

A thorough reform of Iraq’s civilian security sector will be critical for long term stability.  In order to regain Iraqi citizens’ confidence, the government will need to prove its ability to deliver security and rule of law through trustworthy, regular civilian security forces that respect human rights, are in tune with citizen’s needs and constitute the sole providers of security.  The purpose of the Civil Society Strategy is to outline EUAM Iraq’s framework for the way forward, to engage with civil society, in line with Iraq’s National Security Strategy.

The Roundtable event in Baghdad was attended by representatives of the New Zealand, Canadian, Australian, Italian and Spanish Embassies, the Coalition Forces and NATO, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and International Organization for Migration (IOM), the International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP), the International Republican Institute (IRI), The National Democratic Institute (NDI), The Development Alternatives Inc. (DAI) and the International Institute for the Rule of Law (IIRL). 

The members of the Roundtable discussed different successful and non-successful approaches to civil society involvement, and shared experiences, best practices, and lessons learned.   

The launch event will be continued by another Roundtable with Iraqi civil society representatives in the middle of April, to be followed in the early summer with the development of a platform involving government representatives, international partners, and Iraqi civil society.