UNICEF and IREX Partner to Strengthen Reporting on Children’s Rights in Iraq

The United Nations Children's Fund and IREX have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen reporting on children’s rights in Iraq. The two organizations will do so by training Iraqi journalists and media outlets on professional standards for reporting on children as well as empower children to produce content on issues they and other children in their communities are experiencing.

“The media has an essential role in ensuring that children’s every day issues are reported on in relation to their rights” says UNICEF Iraq Representative, Sikander Khan. “This partnership will help to build public awareness on the current state of children’s rights in Iraq thereby promoting greater investments in Iraqi children.”

Through the cooperation, the two organizations will conduct trainings across the country for hundreds of Iraqi journalists and civil society leaders on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the role of the media in protecting and promoting children’s rights, the present situation of child rights violations throughout Iraq, and ethical reporting on children’s lives, especially of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children suffering from the highest levels of deprivation. 

To promote children’s journalism, children with an interest in journalism will also be trained on their rights and how to make their own news via written, audio and video stories on rights violations they and other children face. These children will specifically learn how to use social media outlets and new information technology to communicate their stories to the public. 

“Raising awareness about children’s rights is a challenge for both Iraqi media and children,” says IREX Country Director Jacky Sutton. “Children in Iraq are seldom allowed to speak for themselves and when they are portrayed it is usually in a one dimensional role as a victim. Media must not just report fairly and accurately on children’s experiences, but they must also provide space for the diversity and creativity of the many voices of the child.” 

Trainings for Iraqi media professionals and civil society organizations in Erbil, Najaf and Basra are underway and will be expanded to all other governorates over the next several months. The partnership is in support of UNICEF's advocacy to ensure children's rights are protected, which presently in Iraq includes events in all governorates until the end of November to call for the creation of Child Rights Committees in commemoration of the Convention on the Rights of the Child turning 21 on November 20th. 

About UNICEF Iraq

UNICEF has been on the ground in Iraq since 1983 working to ensure Iraqi children survive and realize their full potential. UNICEF is supporting the Government of Iraq to develop child friendly policies, build the capacity of institutions that deliver essential services to children, and convene all duty bearers to realize the full rights of Iraqi children. Via a network of staff and partners UNICEF’s programmes continue to improve basic health services, safeguard a quality education, rebuild water and sanitation systems, protect children from abuse, violence, and exploitation, and meet the needs of the most vulnerable in crisis situations.

IREX implements the Media and Technology for Community Development Program in Iraq, which provides for  professional training of media and civil society, lawmakers and government to use information technology to promote transparency, accountability, and Article 19 freedoms of expression and access to information.

For further information, please contact:

UNICEF-Iraq

Jaya Murthy, UNICEF Iraq, +962 79 692 6190, jmurthy@unicef.org 
Salam Abdulmunem, UNICEF Iraq, +9647809126782, sabulmunem@unicef.org

IREX-Iraq
Hudaifa Hassoon, IREX Iraq, hhassoon@irex-iraq.org

Photo credits: Dave Chung