By Kazhan Abdullah
UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) was established in 2003 to support Iraq’s political development and stability, particularly following the U.S. invasion.
Its mandate involves the promotion of inclusive political dialogue, assistance in electoral processes, and facilitation of national reconciliation.
In the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections set for October 20, 2024, UNAMI (United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq) has played a notable role. The role of UNAMI in the Kurdistan Region is of utmost importance as it advocates for fair elections, underscores the significance of a peaceful campaign environment, and actively promotes the involvement of women and minority groups.
The Kurdistan Region is currently receiving technical assistance from UNAMI as they support the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) and other Iraqi institutions. This encompasses reinforcing electoral preparations to ensure the implementation of democratic elections with meaningful participation from women.
The necessity underscored by UNAMI is to create a campaign environment that is free of violence and intimidation, with an emphasis on promoting inclusivity and facilitating open dialogue among candidates and political actors.
Furthermore, they will aid in conducting regular technical evaluations and providing detailed reports on electoral processes in order to enhance transparency and credibility.
UNAMI actively supports the augmentation of women’s involvement in the elections through the provision of technical support to the Independent High Electoral Commission and other Iraqi institutions. The purpose of this support is to guarantee the complete, equitable, significant, and secure involvement of women in the electoral procedure.
Moreover, UNAMI promotes the adoption of customized training initiatives for women candidates, the incorporation of gender audits within political parties, and the launch of awareness campaigns to combat stereotypes and violence against women in politics.
As part of its commitment to the Kurdistan election campaign, UNAMI actively supported the media in creating an atmosphere of respect and inclusivity. It emphasized the importance of open dialogue among media outlets.
Additionally, UNAMI stresses the importance of combating misinformation and disinformation and fostering partnerships with local media to bolster voter education and awareness. This includes the creation of fact-checking posts, with more than 50 digital posts being developed to clarify electoral matters and refute false assertions. These posts will be shared in English, Arabic, and Kurdish.
In order to communicate directly with voters in the Kurdistan Region, UNAMI will employ a range of channels. Initiatives like the #Ivote and #Ivoted campaigns will encourage voter engagement, urging them to share their voting experiences and questions on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter.
The UNAMI will offer its support to the IHEC by facilitating the distribution of bulk SMS messages, aiming to inform voters about election processes and mechanisms for dispute resolution. The purpose of these strategies is to improve voter awareness and engagement in the electoral process.
Ultimately, UNAMI’s active advocacy for women’s participation and monitoring of the electoral process significantly contributes to the credibility of the elections, reflecting the desires of Kurdistan Region’s citizens.