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News from the Field: Building the Capacity of Iraq’s Lawyers

Historically, Iraq has enjoyed a rich legal tradition. But 30 thirty years of autocratic rule eroded the judicial system, leaving behind both laws and practices that broke with that tradition. Iraq’s lawyers became isolated and unaccustomed to using courts to redress grave human rights abuses.

Since the end of Saddam Hussein's rule, Iraq has made strides to rebuild a judicial system that is equal, independent and predictable. To support these efforts, UNDEF funds a project organized by the International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC) to build the capacity of a diverse and representative group of Iraqi lawyers in using the legal system to uphold the rule of law. In cooperation with the Central and Eastern European Law Institute, the International Bar Association and the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, ILAC organized a training seminar in March 2009 for 50 Iraqi lawyers nominated by the Iraqi Bar Association, Iraqi Jurists Association and Kurdistan Bar Association.

The intensive four-day programme focused on the practical application of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant for Civil and Political Rights. Legal experts from the Arab region, Japan, Europe and the US offered comparative perspectives on the application of these instruments. Of particular interest was a presentation by the Japan Federation of Bar Associations on the Japanese experience after the Second World War, focusing on rebuilding the judicial system and addressing violations of humanitarian law. Small plenary sessions enabled Iraqi lawyers from both genders to contextualize their training and discuss provocative issues such as the legal rights of women and children, fair trial guarantees and how to address human rights abuses committed by foreign powers.

On completing the course, several of the Iraqi lawyers offered to organize similar trainings for their colleagues in Iraq. Many committed themselves to advocating for reform of discriminatory legislation and coordinating more closely with civil society groups on human rights issues.