Governance and Human Rights
HUMAN RIGHTS & ACCOUNTABILITY
What is accountability?
Accountability means when someone commits crimes or violence, there is a fair and reliable justice system that stops them and makes them face appropriate consequences. It means citizens’ rights are protected without discrimination, both by law and in reality. Powerful people cannot buy or threaten their way out.
Without accountability, groups who are willing to use violence gain power over others who have no way to protect themselves. It prevents society as a whole from advancing. For ordinary citizens, it can be a terrifying and hopeless environment.
Accountability means when someone commits crimes or violence, there is a fair and reliable justice system that stops them and makes them face appropriate consequences. It means citizens’ rights are protected without discrimination, both by law and in reality. Powerful people cannot buy or threaten their way out.
Without accountability, groups who are willing to use violence gain power over others, who have no way to protect themselves. It prevents society as a whole from advancing. For ordinary citizens, it can be a terrifying and hopeless environment.
our work
Iraqis are working courageously to establish real accountability in Iraq. Some are sacrificing their lives. EPIC is helping by conducting research that gives citizens a foundation of facts and evidence to push for change.
- We are hosting advocacy trainings for activists in the Ninewa Plains from July to Sept. to help communities navigate local political systems.
- We just started a new research project to survey and analyze the views among young Iraq’s about secularism and religion in politics.
- Don’t miss our ground-breaking Tishreen report about Iraq’s popular movement for reform. Learn about the Tishreen movement.
governance & human rights
advocacy training
The Ninewa Plains is home to a diverse mixture of social, national, religious and sectarian communities, including Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, Arabs, Shabaks, Kaka’i Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites.
This diversity has been a factor in conflicting interests political and armed groups in the region. Because of its location, resources, and diversity, the region is also exposed to power struggles between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as interventions by external actors.
The Ninewa Plains is home to a diverse mixture of social, national, religious and sectarian communities, including Christians, Yazidis, Kurds, Arabs, Shabaks, Kaka’i Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites.
This diversity has been a factor in conflicting interests political and armed groups in the region. Because of its location, resources, and diversity, the region is also exposed to power struggles between Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as well as interventions by external actors.
As a result, citizens in the Ninewa Plains suffer from human rights violations and restricted political representation. They also face economic difficulties from war, underdevelopment, and reduced agriculture because of severe droughts.
Our project is helping citizens analyze the problems they face, develop policy papers to propose solutions, and implement conflict-sensitive advocacy campaigns to advocate for their needs.
self-determination
iraqis are demanding better governance. what kind of governance do they want?
In partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Dijlah Consulting Engineers, EPIC published the results of a new nation-wide survey of over 1,062 young Iraqi voters (ages 18-40) in November, 2022 about their attitudes toward a secular state and the role of religion and religious leaders in state institutions.
The surprising new survey sheds light on the direction Iraqis are headed, and reveals some of the opportunities and obstacles on the road ahead.
iraqis are demanding better governance. what kind of governance do they want?
new national survey results - nov. 2022
In partnership with the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Dijlah Consulting Engineers, EPIC published the results of a new nation-wide survey of over 1,062 young Iraqi voters (ages 18-40) in November, 2022 about their attitudes toward a secular state and the role of religion and religious leaders in state institutions.
The surprising new survey sheds light on the direction Iraqis are headed, and reveals some of the opportunities and obstacles on the road ahead.
Electoral trends
Download the results of our 2021 national voter survey (it’s free). The report includes responses from 1,068 Iraqi voters ahead of the October 2021 national elections. The survey predicted several trends that major media outlets missed, such as parliamentary seats gained by Tishreen-aligned candidates.
latest news from iraq
ISHM: September 24 – October 1, 2026
Key Takeaways: POLITICS: Parliament to Vote on New PMF Draft Law as Zaidi Outlines Plan to Bring Weapons Under State Control – On September 29, Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s Cabinet finalized a draft law on the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) and referred it to parliament for discussion and a vote. The draft was prepared “within the framework of the government’s keenness to regulate the administrative framework of security institutions” and to show “appreciation for the sacrifices” of PMF fighters, according to a statement from Zaidi’s office, which offered no details about the proposed legislation. Last year, efforts by parliamentary blocs affiliated with militias operating under the PMF umbrella to pass similar legislation drew strong objections from Washington, which warned that “any such legislation would institutionalize Iranian influence and armed terrorist groups undermining Iraq’s sovereignty.” News of the bill came a day before Zaidi announced a formal start to efforts to