<Back Print
August 2007 Newsletter
$Account.OrganizationName
Iraq Foundation Newsletter )
A Change in Perspective Activities for Augest 2007
In This Issue
  • Executive Director Rend Al-Rahim Appears on
    CNN's "This Week at War" and PBS' "News Hour"
  • IF Maps Needs of Iraqi Refugees Returning to Basra
  • IF Continues Its Cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the World Health Organization to Spread Human Rights Education across Iraq
  • IF Staff Participates in UNIFEM Workshop
  • IF's Human Rights Defenders Network Publishes 5th Newsletter

    		•

    Dear Friends,

    In this issue, we would like to highlight some of the Iraq Foundation's (IF) recent activities. During August, IF has been working hard to promote its mission throughout Iraq. IF's Executive Director, Rend Al-Rahim, appeared on several news programs to discuss Iraq and the work of the Iraq Foundation. IF worked to map the needs of returning Iraqi refugees to Basra. In addition to attending workshops in the region, our staff sponsored workshops in Baghdad to assist the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment and the World Health Organization as part of our on-going human rights education program. During this reporting period, IF also released a newsletter from its Human Rights Defenders Network.

    As always, should you have any questions about our activities, please do not hesitate to contact us.

    Sincerely,


    Joseph Sandor
    Communication Officer
    Iraq Foundation

    		Executive Director Rend Al-Rahim Appears on
    CNN's "This Week at War" and PBS' "News Hour"

    On August 11, 2007 IF's Executive Director, Rend Al-Rahim, appeared on CNN's "This Week at War" to discuss the political situation in Iraq. Ms. Al-Rahim's discussion focused on the political instability in the Maliki government and strategies promote national reconciliation. To view a transcript of the broadcast, please click here.

    Later in the month on August 15th, Ms. Al-Rahim appeared on PBS' "News Hour" with host Jim Lehrer. Ms. Al-Rahim discussed Iraq's political and security struggles. To view a transcript of the broadcast, please click here.

    		IF Maps Needs of Iraqi Refugees Returning to Basra

    From August 4th to the 17th, the Iraq Foundation worked to map the needs of refugees returning to the southern governorate of Basra. IF worked with two local non-governmental organizations in Basra to collect information. The mapping efforts surveyed 263 families from 10 different areas of Basra, which included Faw, al Zoubair, al Madina, al Garna, al Deir, Basra City, Abou Khosayb, Karma, al Haritha, and Shatt al Arab. The families were Iraqi refugees that have recently returned from Iran and Saudi Arabia. IF identified the following needs: housing, employment opportunities, clean drinking water, and better health and education services.

    		IF Continues Its Cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and the World Health Organization to Spread Human Rights Education across Iraq

    As part of our ongoing human rights education project, IF is assisting the Iraqi Ministry of the Environment (MoEn) and the World Health Organization (WHO) on their joint human rights education program. In August, IF sponsored two workshops in Baghdad, which targeted human rights concepts, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and relevant articles. The first workshop was held on August 2 and the second on August 23rd. Both workshops were held at the Baghdad Directorate of Environment in the Ministry of Environment. The participants belonged to the Ministry of Education, Civil Society Organizations, MoEn, Baghdad's Treasury, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Electricity, provincial councils, TV stations, as well as various tribal, religious, and community leaders.

    		IF Staff Participates in UNIFEM Workshop

    IF's Sukaina Jameel, manager of IF's Basra office, participated in a United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) workshop in Amman, Jordan during the month of August. The two-day workshop, which was held on the 19th and 20th, focused on training NGOs to curb violence against women. The workshop also discussed methods in helping women deal with family disputes and mitigate violence in the home.

    		IF's Human Rights Defenders Network Publishes 5th Newsletter

    The Human Rights Defenders Network (HRDN) published its sixth newsletter in August. These newsletters report on the human rights situation in at least 12 different governorates of Iraq each month. Formed in December 2006 by the Iraq Foundation, HRDN monitors, documents, and advocates for human rights in Iraq's governorates. Published in Arabic, HRDN's monthly newsletters are available on our website.

    Quick Links...