Tag Archives: stability

Iraq unveils historic migration plan to boost development and stability

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Unveiled on Wednesday, it creates new opportunities for work, education and family reunification, while strengthening migration governance and placing migration at the heart of stability and economic development.

It is being led by Iraq’s ministry for migration and the displaced, with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Government of the Netherlands – translating Iraq’s global commitments into national action.

Migration minister Evan Faeq Gabro said that it represents a “vision for Iraq’s future that upholds human dignity”, serves national interests, and supports the Global Compact for Migration.

“Iraq is setting an example for the region and beyond, showing how national leadership and genuine partnership can turn migration into an engine for dignity, opportunity, and development,” said Ugochi Daniels, IOM’s  Deputy Director General for Operations.

Origin and destination

Iraq is both a country of origin and destination, with some two million nationals currently living abroad, while thousands more are weighing emigration.

In the past seven years, over 58,000 people have returned to Iraq, rebuilding their lives at home.

Meanwhile, the country also hosts some 370,000 migrant workers, mainly engaged in semi-skilled sectors such as construction and domestic work.

Iraq’s five-year National Plan to Promote Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration emphasises data-driven decision-making, stronger institutional coordination and calls for closer private sector involvement.

Stability and development

“This national plan demonstrates that when policies are grounded in evidence and shaped by people’s needs, migration can benefit migrants, communities, and the country as a whole,” said Ms Daniels.

Th new policy responds to Iraq’s current migration realities, framing migration as a tool for national development and stability, says IOM.

“Today, we are here to commit ourselves to ensuring that migration is about dignity, safety, and opportunity for migrants, their families, and the communities they join,” said Claudio Cordone, UN Deputy Special Representative in Iraq.

The plan outlines a vision for a future that upholds human dignity and serves the national interest.

Aftermath of Tripoli clashes puts Libya’s fragile stability to the test

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Nearly 15 years after Gaddafi’s fall, Libya remains split between the internationally recognised Government of National Unity in Tripoli, and the rival Government of National Stability in Benghazi.

Although a truce was reached on 14 May, the outbreak of fighting last month in the capital “temporarily disrupted UN development and humanitarian operations,” said top UN envoy Hanna Tetteh.

Fragile Truce

On 18 May, with support from the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), the Presidential Council established a Truce Committee.

Composed of key security actors, the body has been mandated to monitor the upholding of the ceasefire, facilitate a permanent end to the fighting and ensure the protection of civilians.

As UNSMIL works to ease tensions and prevent further clashes, the Presidential Council has also set up a temporary Security and Military Arrangement Committee, tasked with sustaining peace and reorganising security forces in the capital.

“The truce, however, remains fragile, and the overall security situation unpredictable,” said Ms. Tetteh.

Alleged grave violations

The armed clashes that erupted in May resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to critical civilian infrastructure, underscoring the shortcomings of State security forces in adhering to international humanitarian and human rights law, she continued.

Ms. Tetteh expressed alarm over mass graves found in Abu Slim, citing emerging evidence of serious human rights violations – including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances – allegedly by State security forces.

“The presence of charred remains, unidentified bodies in morgues, and a suspected unofficial detention site at Abu Salim Zoo underscores the scale and gravity of these abuses,” she said.

Demand for change

“Many Libyans are deeply disillusioned with the prolonged transitional period and have lost confidence in the current institutions and leadership,” said Ms. Tetteh.

As civilians increasingly doubt the current leadership’s willingness to put national interests above their own, there is strong demand for a political process that allows public participation, enables elections, and delivers a democratic government with a clear mandate for real change.

UNSMIL intends to present a time-bound and politically pragmatic roadmap – with the goal of reaching the end of the transitional process – by the time of her next briefing, Ms. Tetteh told ambassadors.

“I urge all parties to engage in good faith and to be ready to forge consensus on this roadmap,” she said.

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