Basra, 28 January 2017 - A forum of Iraqi youth under the theme “Iraq: Youth and Coexistence” and aimed to present the voice of the young generation in the national reconciliation process launched its first of a series of cross-country sessions on Saturday, 28 January 2017 in Basra, highlighting the importance of the role of youth in the future of post-conflict Iraq and putting forward recommendations to be raised at a national conference in May.

Baghdad, Iraq, 26 June, 2015 – The Friends of UNICEF youth voluntary group held their first event supporting UNICEF with the Water and Sanitation (WASH) programme to promote water conservation in Iraq in Baghdad. The event was supported by the European Union (EU) as part of a public awareness project to promote efficient water use and improved hygiene practices in Iraq. 

Baghdad, 17 December 2014 –  Iraqi Prime Minister Dr. Haidar Al-Abadi, and Minister of Planning, Dr. Salman Al-Jumaily jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), today launched in Baghdad the National Human Development Report  2014 under the theme “Youth: Challenges and Opportunities”.

Based on the conference held in Baghdad on 9 December, Iraqi youth recommend the Iraqi Government: 

Speech of Mr. Nickolay Mladenov

Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General (SRSG) for Iraq

Head, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI)

National Youth Conference for Social Peace

Rasheed Hotel, Baghdad, Iraq

30 November 2013 (Saturday)

Baghdad, 30 November 2013 – “Iraq Youth Conference for Social Peace is a needed reminder that young people coming together against terror can be a powerful force for good, said the Special Representative of the United Nations for Iraq (SRSG), Mr. Nickolay Mladenov, at today’s National Youth Conference for Social Peace.

Iraqi youth, like their counterparts in the region, face many challenges which require several and diverse skills to take the nations to the shores of peace and security. Ironically, youth are expected to play an effective role in building their community and country while no opportunity is provided for them to probe their potentials, knowledge, attitudes and capacities in such a way that renders them self-confident when considering their own ideas, analysis and visions on different issues. If such opportunity exists, youth can communicate willingly with other people, and build and seek sustainable relations that guarantee positive and lasting development for them, their fellows and their community. 

By Yasmine Khaled Aly, UNIDO

Before learning about UNIDO’s Investment Promotion in Iraq (IPI) Project, Anwar Hussein – a young, ambitious and hardworking Iraqi – had a small business but few business opportunities. With IPI's help, Anwar’s business, and life, have changed. 

In May 2012, the UNESCO Iraq Office launched its project “Fighting Youth Unemployment through Education” in Erbil. The project is funded by the government of Japan, and is implemented in Kurdistan Region as a pilot, in cooperation with Kurdish Regional Government counterparts, specifically the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs.

By Dhafer Hasan, UNDP

What are the main challenges facing youth in Iraq? What do they need to deal with those challenges and how can they better contribute to their peers and their communities? These questions are being addressed as part of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project which is aimed at promoting the active participation of Iraqi youth in life, society and decision-making processes at local, regional and national levels.