Under the auspices of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, the Women Leaders Institute held a specialized dialogue session to discuss and form a national team concerned with the rights of nationality and stateless persons in Iraq. The session included a select group of representatives from governmental and academic institutions, international and local organizations, and the media.
Mr. Saad Al-Abdali, Advisor to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, attended the session and contributed his insights and observations to enrich the discussion on the importance of strengthening guarantees for the right to nationality and addressing the legal and procedural challenges faced by stateless persons, in accordance with human rights principles and Iraq’s constitutional and legal obligations.
The Women Leaders Institute extends its sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr. Saad Al-Abdali for his support and active participation, and to Ms. Noor Abdul Karim for her efforts and assistance in ensuring the success of the session. The Institute also acknowledges the efforts of the Commission’s departments, particularly the Public Relations, Media, Publications, and Education Department, and the Women’s Empowerment Department, for their support and cooperation, which contributed to the success of this dialogue. The session was attended by representatives from several national institutions and bodies, including the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Interior, the National Security Advisory, the Ministry of Health, the Baghdad Governorate/Department of Women, Family, and Children, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the Office of the Prime Minister, along with a number of academics, instructors, and researchers specializing in Iraqi law and legislation.
Representatives from international and local organizations and media outlets also participated, which strengthened the multi-sectoral nature of the dialogue and facilitated the exchange of experiences and perspectives on developing policies, legislation, and procedures related to the right to nationality.
Participants discussed several topics related to equality in enjoying the right to nationality, the challenges faced by stateless persons, legal and procedural gaps, and the importance of developing national mechanisms for coordination and follow-up to ensure the protection of fundamental rights and prevent anyone from being left without a clear legal status.
The Women Leaders Institute emphasized that the formation of this national team represents an important step towards building a participatory national framework that brings together governmental institutions, human rights organizations, academic institutions, and civil society, with the aim of strengthening dialogue and developing practical recommendations and solutions that contribute to addressing issues of nationality and statelessness in Iraq. The Institute is proud to be part of this national initiative, under the auspices of the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, based on its belief that guaranteeing the right to nationality is a fundamental pillar for the full enjoyment of civil, economic, social, and political rights, and that addressing statelessness requires broad national cooperation and a shared commitment among all relevant stakeholders.
At the conclusion of the session, the Women Leaders Institute expressed its appreciation and gratitude to all the institutions, individuals, academics, organizations, and media outlets that participated in this dialogue, emphasizing that the formation of the national team is the beginning of an ongoing process of work, coordination, and advocacy to promote equality and protect the right to nationality for every individual in Iraq.
Women Leaders Institute
Towards fairer legislation and a society that guarantees rights for all.
