We provide legal assistance in the country, which is essential to obtain civil documentation for displaced people, who would otherwise be excluded from essential services
Iraq, a field of violent clashes with the armed group ISIS, has recorded a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) over the years, reaching 1.2 million to date, according to the latest estimates of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). With the de-escalation of the conflict, these numbers have significantly reduced (over 3 million in 2017), however, there is still great concern about the number of displaced persons who are unable to return to their homes. Often, restrictions on movement are due to security reasons, such as arrests at checkpoints. In this context, a practice that may seem trivial, but which is fundamental to restart a normal life, is decisive: obtaining an identity document, marriage certificate or other documents useful for the personal recognition and therefore reintegration into society and the use of public services.
Access to documents is a key intervention in social and legal protection and assistance projects for displaced persons, as it mitigates the risk of detention and refoulement and allows access to essential services. “Lack of civil documentation is considered one of the main concerns in the protection sector, as it affects many aspects, including children’s enrolment in school, access to food, the possibility to file claims in court, freedom of movement, prevention from arbitrary arrests and much more,” says Ali Sulaiman, Deputy Protection Manager of INTERSOS in Iraq.
Legal aid protects the most vulnerable people
In the beginning, the paperwork was completed by INTERSOS legal teams, then the assisted persons had to go to the office of the Civil Affairs Directorate (CAD) of the Ministry of Interior (MoI) of the Iraqi government to formalise the procedure and obtain the documents. Having to physically present themselves at the various offices often prevented the most vulnerable from receiving their civil documentation, as many did not have the opportunity to travel and reach the institutional locations at their own expenses. This is why from December 2019 INTERSOS, in collaboration with UNHCR Iraq, is providing displaced persons with legal assistance, in order to avoid the necessity to travel to reach institutional locations.
“The impact of these operations is impressive and they started only a year and a half ago“, explains Pietro Caburrosso, INTERSOS Country Programme Coordinator, “In one day, in just five hours, 139 identity cards were produced and only one was rejected. The risk levels for undocumented people are much higher than for those who have them in order”.
Government officials issue identity documents on site
These visits take place on a weekly basis, lasting four to five hours, and allow government officials to personally visit the site and complete the process of issuing civil identity cards there, without the assisted people having to travel to the relevant office some 200 km away. According to data we collected in Baaj, Ninewa governorate, 658 documents were issued during 2021 and 143 are currently being processed.
Having a document in a post-conflict context, especially where levels of political, ethnic and religious tension are still very high, can ensure that basic rights are respected. “This service will help us to overcome many barriers, to obtain the Iraqi nationality certificate, which is considered essential for the issuance of other documents,” says one of the people assisted by INTERSOS.