Support to the Iraqi authorities responsible for the registration and screening of adult Iraqi nationals seeking voluntary repatriation from Al-Hol Camp

Between March 2024 to January 2026, the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility (the Facility) provided technical assistance to the Iraqi national authorities responsible for the registration and screening of adult Iraqi nationals seeking voluntary repatriation from Al-Hol Camp. The Facility is a flagship initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT).

These activities are part of the broader United Nations support to the government of Iraq in its efforts to accelerate the safe and secure voluntary repatriation from camps in northeast Syria and long-term reintegration into society of Iraqi families with alleged links or family ties to Da’esh, in accordance with Iraq’s obligations under international human rights law, international humanitarian law and taking into account gender and age dimensions.

Improving the registration of Iraqi nationals in Al-Hol and screening of adult individuals

A team of four experts, assembled by the Facility, provided advisory support and training sessions to Iraqi officials on registration and screening processes. The team comprised experts specializing in intelligence, human rights, trauma-informed interviewing, and open-source intelligence. Specifically, they provided guidance on aligning registration and screening protocols with international human rights norms and standards. They mentored participants to improve their interviewing techniques through better communication and observation skills. The experts also supported the development of a secure registration database for adult individuals seeking voluntary repatriation from Al Hol camp, in line with good practices for managing and protecting sensitive personal data and upholding the right to privacy.

Equipment delivery

On 16 January 2025, UNOCT officially handed over information technology (IT) equipment to the Iraqi national authorities in charge of registering and screening adult Iraqi nationals seeking to be repatriated from Al Hol Camp. This equipment consisted of two servers, 20 laptops, 20 desktops, 15 tablets, 15 portable printers, 10 fingerprint scanners, six cameras and other IT devices for efficient data management, for a total amount of USD 181,000. Senior representatives from the Iraqi government, including the Office of the National Security Advisor, the Head of the European Union delegation to Iraq, the Head of the European Union Advisory Mission to Iraq, and the Head of the UNOCT office in Iraq, participated in the ceremony.

Ethical interviewing and addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence

From July 2025 to January 2026, the Facility provided additional support focused on ethical interviewing and addressing Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). A total of 61 Iraqi officials from Baghdad, Ninawa, Al-Anbar, Salah al-Din, Diyala and Babel attended training sessions on ethical interviewing techniques, trauma-informed practices, managing secondary trauma and culturally sensitive, victim-centred approaches. These training sessions offered participants a safe and structured space to reflect on their roles in supporting returnees and their families. Discussions examined operational challenges in the field, the emotional impact on victims and shortcomings in the current reintegration policies.

In January 2026, 27 additional Iraqi officials working with Iraqi families residing at the Al-Amal Center following their repatriation from northeastern Syria attended a training course focused on the prevention, detection, and response to SGBV. The course applied trauma-informed and survivor-centered approaches grounded in international human rights law and good practice also incorporating age and gender considerations.