A project of Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, the Coalition for Just Reparations (C4JR) is an alliance of Iraqi NGOs calling for comprehensive reparations for survivors of atrocity crimes perpetrated during the ISIL conflict in Iraq. C4JR seeks to provide a collaborative and safe space where the grievances of survivors belonging to all affected groups (Yazidi, Turkmen, Shabak, Kakai, Christians, Shia, Sunnis, and others) will be adequately addressed. C4JR also strives to make available access to good practices, refer to international standards, and learn from the mistakes and successes of other post-conflict initiatives.
C4JR's Mission
The C4JR aims to establish a comprehensive state-funded reparation program for all civilian victims of gross human rights violations perpetrated during the ISIS armed conflict in Iraq. We also want to ensure that reparative measures reach their intended beneficiaries by monitoring the implementation of existing and forthcoming legislation.
Thus, our immediate goals are:
- Unify Iraqi civil society´s position with regard to reparations
- Enter into dialogue with relevant stakeholders In Iraq on reparations
- Provide a framework for debate on reparations based on human rights law
- Facilitate the involvement of survivors in all stages of the reparations debate
- Clarify the importance of reparations to the general public
Survivors’ Council
C4JR doesn’t want to speak instead of survivors but rather inform them, amplify their voice, and be heard alongside them. To make sure the right to reparations is on the agenda. It remains there to provide space for deliberation, collaboration, and reflection, not only with survivors but also with state authorities and international partners. To that end, the Survivors Council has been established. It consists of individual survivors of the ISIL conflict in Iraq and their associations. Survivors Council members’ primary role is to provide guidance to the C4JR bodies and member organizations on different aspects of C4JRs work, strengthen the connection with the survivors and their communities, provide insights on ethical engagement and take part in public events, workshops, and conferences as self-advocates. Its purpose is to ensure that C4JR efforts are victim-centered, effective, and responsive to the needs of diverse survivors.
Publications and Resources
To mark the second anniversary of the passage of the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law, C4JR publishes a report More than “Ink on Paper”: Taking Stock two Years After the Adoption of the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law. This report provides an overview of circumstances leading up to YSL´s enactment and content, reactions and the state of implementation.
This manual aims at enhancing the Iraqi civil society organizations’ (CSOs) knowledge in
Transitional and Restorative Justice (TJ/RJ) and improving their capacities in planning and
implementing relevant activities. Therefore, the manual combines both theoretical
knowledge and practical steps to explore, plan, and implement interventions at the local
levels. While the manual draws on TJ/RJ academic discourse and experiences from other post-conflict contexts, it was specifically developed in conformity with the Iraqi context and based on accumulated inputs from civil society actors.
English, 2.75 MB
- C4JR Open Letter to UN Special Adviser on Genocide Prevention (PDF)
- C4JR Survey (PDF)
- Position paper on Reparations (PDF)
- Founding Charter (PDF)
- Internal Guidelines on Ethical Engagement with Survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (PDF)
- Draft Law (PDF)
- Key Recommendations to the Iraqi Council of Ministers for Implementing Regulations of the Yazidi [Female] Survivors Law (PDF)
- Policy Paper (PDF)
- Checklist for Media Involvement (PDF)
Learn more about the Coalition for Just Reparations on their website: www.c4jr.org
For press inquiries on this project contact Press@jiyan.org