Basra, Iraq

Transforming Law Enforcement:  Human Rights & Gender Justice in Basra

👥 Partners: Al-Firdaws Association, Iraqi Ministry of Interior, Global Partners

🗣️ “A police force that understands human rights is not weaker—it is stronger. Justice is not control; it is accountability.”

For nearly a year, I led a comprehensive transformation initiative aimed at redefining law enforcement’s role in upholding human rights in Iraq. This was not a simple training—it was a multi-phase, structured intervention designed to equip police, intelligence units, and judicial officers with the knowledge, skills, and institutional frameworks to respond to gender-based violence, human rights violations, and community-based security challenges.

This initiative took place between February and September 2024, involving ten intensive workshops across multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Family and Child Protection Department, Intelligence Apparatus, Community Police, and Crisis Response Units.

📌 What This Project Achieved

Institutionalizing Human Rights in Policing – Officers were trained to integrate international human rights standards into daily law enforcement.
Gender-Responsive Security Forces – Special focus on equipping law enforcement personnel to handle gender-based violence cases with sensitivity and accountability.
Bridging Community & Law Enforcement Trust – Strengthened the relationship between police, community leaders, and civil society to ensure justice, not fear, defines law enforcement.
Building Sustainable Policy Reform – Findings from this initiative contributed directly to policy recommendations for national security strategies and the integration of UNSCR 1325 into policing.

🚀 Key Takeaways & Impact

🔹 Over 300+ security officers, judges, and law enforcement personnel trained
🔹 Pre-test and post-test results showed a 33% improvement in knowledge & application of human rights in law enforcement
🔹 Increased female participation in security forces & advocacy for women-led policing units
🔹 Legal & procedural gaps identified for policy recommendations

📸 Experience the Work Firsthand

🌍 This initiative is not just a case study—it’s a scalable model for international security sector reform.