In October 2015, thanks to UNDP support, we launched a new intervention plan in Iraq dedicated to peacebuilding. The project - 'Nineveh Paths to Social Cohesion, Coexistence and Peace' is aimed at the communities that had inhabited the Nineveh Plain area for thousands of years before the area was conquered by Daesh during its advance towards Mosul in the summer of 2014.
The vast Nineveh Plateau has always been characterised by the heterogeneity of its communities
Christian, Ezid, Turkoman, Assyrian, Chaldean and Shabak communities that have been settled in the area for millennia with the Muslim population, and all of whom have been forced to flee due to the violence of the conflict.
These communities and displaced people are the target of the intervention plan, with the aim of building together a future of peace, coexistence and social cohesion in view of an eventual return to Nineveh, when it is freed from the presence of Daesh.
The first step towards return is in fact to work to avoid cross-sectarian vendettas, the formation of spontaneous militias on a confessional basis, and episodes of violence and discrimination that aggravate the already existing state of tension. Without profound work on social recomposition, Iraq will continue to be torn apart by internal conflicts and sectarian violence.
This is why, together with the communities of the Nineveh Plain and Iraqi civil society organisations, we devised 'Nineveh Paths', a programme that involved five religious communities, four mayors, the Provincial Council and the Governor of the area, and 15 local associations (supporting as many micro-projects), as well as a large number of religious leaders, community leaders, activists, young people and women. The aim was to strengthen civil society and community leadership on issues of dialogue, reconciliation, mediation, coexistence and peace building.
From October 2015 to February 2016, the response from local partners exceeded the project's objectives, which will continue in 2017. Here are some of the results achieved in the first phase of work, in partnership with the Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR):
Creation of the Peace Council
The Nineveh Provincial Council hosted several meetings with tribal, religious and minority community leaders all from the area, and with women, youth, artists and civil society organisations, which resulted in the creation of the Nineveh Peace Council.
Filming for a documentary
Filming has begun on the documentary "Heroes of Nineveh", which will follow the work of the communities and organisations involved in the project. The first shootings followed the trainings organised with women and young people, while later on ample space will be dedicated to the direct testimonies and personal stories of activists involved in peacebuilding initiatives in the area.
Creation of Local Peace Committees
The mayors of Wana, Rabi'a, Zumar and Sinuni, involved in the programme, continued and expanded their efforts to promote reconciliation, peace and coexistence by hosting meetings with religious and community leaders, and establishing Local Peace Committees for each area. Mayors and local authorities also involved young people, women and leaders of their communities in trainings on dialogue, peace-building and the involvement of women as key actors in conflict resolution.
The Nineveh Women's Peace Alliance
Women activists, community women and leaders of civil society organisations and local and provincial authorities have created the Nineveh Women's Alliance for Peace. The Alliance brings together women from tribal, religious and minority communities to work together in the promotion of coexistence, peace and reconciliation and for the empowerment of women, encouraging them to participate in the peacebuilding process.
Trauma care with Sharya's Ezid women and intra-community dialogue
Fifty-four Azerbaijani women victims of violence were involved in conflict trauma training in the Sharya IDP camp. In contrast, the local organisations 'Al-Tahrir' and 'RID' started a series of meetings in Wana, Rabi'a, Zumar and Sinuni on the topic of coexistence and community dialogue building processes.
Peace Journalism
The local association 'Peace and Freedom Organisation of Kurdistan' organised training courses with 18 young journalists on the use of social media and Peace Journalism. They will now be able to convey messages of reconciliation, peace and coexistence through social and traditional media.
Opening of the Zumar Peace Youth Centre
Young activists from Zumar opened the Youth Peace Centre, bringing together young people from different communities to start clearing rubble and rebuilding war-affected areas, focusing on youth empowerment and their involvement in peacebuilding activities. Local authorities have expressed their wish that similar centres be opened in other cities to prevent radicalisation and sectarian violence, encouraging them to play an active role in reconstruction, reconciliation and dialogue.
