Despite the official victory over ISIS by Iraqi security forces at the end of 2017, many major challenges remain for Iraq, including political instability, ethnic and religious divisions, unresolved territorial disputes, and the presence of many armed groups.
Our Transformative Justice program addresses the deep-rooted distrust and unresolved conflicts that continue to divide communities in Iraq’s Ninewa governorate. Decades of violence, marginalization, and human rights abuses, worsened by gender inequality and political instability, have left many without access to justice and reparation rights.
We believe in inclusive, community-led approaches to justice. By working with marginalized group – such as women, youth, and minorities – and local organizations, we bolster and amplify voices of victims and survivors for the purpose of contributing to an increased and inclusive access to justice mechanisms.
Our program strengthens local capacities, supports grassroots initiatives, and fosters collaboration between victim groups across political divides. We aim to create lasting peace by ensuring that justice is accessible to all, preventing future atrocities.
Create peace by ensuring that justice is accessible to all
The problem
Despite the official victory over ISIS by Iraqi security forces at the end of 2017, many major challenges remain for Iraq, including political instability, ethnic and religious divisions, unresolved territorial disputes, and the presence of many armed groups.
The root problems that continue to destabilize Iraq are deeply intertwined with historical violence, persistent marginalization, and a lack of justice for victims of conflict. In Ninewa, where the scars of ISIS’s brutal reign are still visible, survivors of violence are struggling to rebuild their lives. The situation is aggravated by the dominance of traditional patriarchal systems, unresolved past atrocities, and ongoing violations such as gender-based violence, housing and property rights abuses, and demographic engineering.
Additionally, the volatile security situation, compounded by territorial disputes between Erbil and Baghdad, continues to create an environment of fear and insecurity for vulnerable communities. The weakened civic space and the failure of both local and national authorities to address the root causes of violence further perpetuate distrust between communities and the state, undermining any efforts toward reconciliation.
For whom
Our program directly benefits marginalized survivor and victim groups in Ninewa—people whose rights and voices have been historically overlooked. These include women, youth, local minorities, persons with disabilities, and politically or tribally disenfranchised individuals. We also work closely with Iraqi civil society organizations, empowering them to become independent, strong actors in peacebuilding. Additionally, we engage with local and provincial authorities who seek to regain the trust of their communities, as well as national authorities in Baghdad and Erbil, encouraging them to play a more effective role in addressing the grievances of Iraq’s citizens. Finally, we seek to influence international policymakers, ensuring they remain committed to Iraq’s long-term stability and that they support inclusive, locally driven approaches to justice.
Our stance
PAX believes that achieving genuine and sustainable peace in Iraq requires addressing the deep mistrust and unresolved conflicts that divide communities. While the Iraqi government and international actors often take a transitional justice approach, we emphasize transformative justice. This means not only holding perpetrators accountable but also transforming the structural conditions—such as gender inequality, ethnic divisions, and political manipulation—that allow cycles of violence to persist.
Empowering marginalized groups such as women, youth, and minorities is essential, as their voices are often excluded from decision-making processes. We believe that justice mechanisms must be accessible to everyone, and peace can only be sustainable if it is built from the ground up, through inclusive and community-driven approaches.
What we do
PAX’s Transformative Justice program is designed to address the complex layers of conflict in Ninewa by empowering local actors and marginalized groups to play an active role in shaping their future. We partner with Iraqi civil society organizations like Al Mesalla and PFO to strengthen their capacity for peacebuilding, focusing on human rights and gender equality. Through these partnerships, we provide resources and training that equip local communities to advocate for their rights and engage with policymakers.
Our program also creates a network of advocates—survivors and victims of violence—who work together to lobby for justice and accountability. Additionally, by supporting grassroots initiatives like community-based organizations and local peace committees, we promote collaboration across sectarian lines and encourage inclusive participation in peacebuilding efforts.
Achievements
Our primary goal is to ensure that victims and survivors of human rights abuses and violent conflict in Ninewa, particularly those marginalized by gender, age, and ethnicity, play an active role in shaping transformative justice processes. By amplifying their voices and empowering them to advocate for their rights, we aim to make these justice processes more inclusive and reflective of the diverse needs of affected communities.
Additionally, we seek to foster collaboration between victim and survivor groups, enabling them to work together across sectarian and political divides. This increased collaboration strengthens their collective ability to access local, national, and international justice mechanisms and advocate for their rights more effectively.
So far, we have facilitated the formation of inclusive networks of survivors and victims, providing them with the tools and platforms to engage in advocacy efforts. Through partnerships with local organizations and civil society actors, we’ve empowered these groups to engage with policymakers and push for more inclusive justice processes.
Partners
Contact
Sarmad Amjad amjad@paxforpeace.nl