Baghdad, 15 September 2025 – The Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights, in partnership with the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights and with support from the German Federal Foreign Office, hosted a panel exchange titled, “Strengthening Iraq’s Legal Framework to Support Children Associated with Armed Conflict: Realising the Right to Rehabilitation for Male Survivors of ISIL Crimes.” The event brought together survivors, civil society representatives, and government officials at the Commission’s headquarters in Baghdad.
Salah Ahmad, president of the Jiyan Foundation, opened the session, affirming the organisation’s commitment to equitable support for all survivors:
“Every survivor, regardless of age or gender, deserves access to justice, healing, and reintegration. It is our shared responsibility to provide holistic support and ensure that no one falls behind on the path to recovery.”
Dr Saad Al-Abdali, advisor to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, underlined “the Iraqi government’s commitment to ensuring justice and rehabilitation for survivors, and that the Commission stands with survivors and the organisations supporting them.”
The panel exchange focused on the holistic rehabilitation of male survivors, addressing psychosocial support, education, economic empowerment, and the implementation of reparations under Iraq’s Yazidi Survivors Law. Discussions highlighted persistent challenges, including low school reintegration rates, fragmented psychosocial services, and barriers to accessing financial and land entitlements.
Jiyan Foundation presented findings from its ongoing project, “Mental Reconstruction After War in Northern Iraq”, which promotes resilience and social reintegration for children and youth formerly associated with armed groups. Developed in collaboration with local NGOs and survivor advocacy groups, such as Hope Givers, the project recommends sustainable, survivor-centered rehabilitation systems that combine central hubs with satellite centers to provide integrated services.
Representatives from the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights stressed the importance of coordinated government and civil society efforts to address the specific needs of male survivors. Survivors actively participated, sharing insights on practical measures to improve access to education, psychosocial care, and economic opportunities.
The event concluded with the presentation of the Shield of Creativity and Excellence to the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, which recognised its role in supporting survivors’ rehabilitation and advancing human rights in Iraq.
For nearly two decades, the Jiyan Foundation has provided mental health care, legal support, and advocacy for survivors of human rights violations, genocide, and terrorism in Iraq and Syria. With the continued support of the German Federal Foreign Office, Jiyan is strengthening its programs to ensure comprehensive rehabilitation and empowerment for survivors of ISIL and other conflicts.
