On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Iraq LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Iraq country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Iraq COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Iraq.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Iraq is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Iraq has not yet ratified the international legal frameworks that govern and inform refugee protections. This includes the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, as well as the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons and the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.
The protection of refugees, therefore, is governed by the 1971 Political Refugee Act No. 51. Article 1(3) of the Act defines a refugee as “every person who seeks asylum in Iraq for political or military reasons” and also includes provisions relating to the right to work and enjoy social benefits. However, it does not provide legislation or procedures for refugees and asylum seekers in Iraq, and as such, all issues related to protection, rights, needs, and durable solutions are address on an ad hoc basis.
Legal aid organisations
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Address: Australia St/Media Quarter, 99448 Duhok, KRI-Iraq
Tel: +964 773 697 1165
Email: info@harikar.org
Contact Person: Mr. Salah Yaseen Majid, Program Coordinator (salah.tilari@gmail.com)
Harikar NGO partners with UNHCR and other local authorities to ensure that all refugees in and outside of camps have access to free legal aid, protection, basic services, and GBV response services. The project activities include psychosocial support counselling, case management, GBV awareness, legal representation, legal counselling, and detention and protection monitoring.
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Legal Information Website – Legal information available in English, Spanish, Creole, Arabic, Pashto, Farsi (Dari).
The International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP) provides free legal help to some refugees and displaced people. IRAP cannot grant refugee status or visas or speed up cases. IRAP cannot provide financial help, find or pay for housing, or find jobs. They do not make any decisions concerning resettlement and they are completely independent of UNHCR and national governments. Any information sent to IRAP is highly confidential, and all services are free of charge. IRAP provides free legal services to refugees seeking refugee protection and resettlement.
IRAP can help some people in processes like:
- Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa applications. IRAP helps with some kinds of Chief of Mission appeals.
- Family reunification for refugees with relatives in the United States and in some European countries. IRAP helps with some stages and some kinds of family reunification processes.
- UNHCR processes. IRAP represents some refugees in certain UNHCR processes in certain countries.
- U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) applications. IRAP helps with some kinds of Requests for Review (RFRs) of USRAP denials.
- Some other processes, like refugees in the U.S. applying for a refugee travel document.
Anyone can request legal help through their chatbot on Facebook by clicking here or on Telegram by clicking here.
This webform is for Afghan SIV applicants who want to file or have received denials from the Chief of Mission (COM) and who do not currently have an application or appeal pending review at COM to request legal help.
IRAP Jordan accepts requests for assistance through this form. The form is only available when IRAP Jordan is accepting new requests for assistance. If the form is not available, please check back to that link regularly.
IRAP is able to help refugees (non-Iraqi nationals) living in Iraq or Iraqis with U.S. affiliation through either family or employment. The support services they provide include assistance with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Programme, U.S. employment and family affiliations, Special Immigrant Visas, and general UNHCR assistance.
IRAP is not able to assist everyone who contacts them, and emailing them or getting in touch does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Address: Government Building Street, Near Khalil Aga Building, Kirkuk, Iraq
Tel: +964 77 04 45 648
Email: Fuad2459@yahoo.com
FUAD is a non-governmental, neutral and non-profit organisation founded under Iraqi law. The association places Iraqi principles and cultural heritage at the heart of its actions in order to address humanitarian challenges faced by those who are vulnerable. FUAd provides emergency food assistance, and other general rapid emergency assistance for the newly arrived internally displaced persons in Kirkuk City and its districts.
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Address: c/o Wadi Office Iraq, Bakhtiari 113 Hakari, Street 14, House 8, Suleymaniah Kurdistan, Iraq
Tel: +964-7701-588173
Email: stopfgmkurdistan@yahoo.com
Stop FGM in Kurdistan is a network of local and international human rights activists, including organisations, journalists, and individual advocates. Through effective campaigning and capacity building, Stop FGM in Kurdistan aims to effectively ban FGM in Kurdish northern Iraq and be able to openly discuss its harms, both physical and psychological.
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Address: Wadi Office Iraq, Baxtiari 113, Alley 7, House 8 Suleymaniah; Kurdistan, Iraq
Tel: 00964-7701-522184
Email: wadisul@yahoo.com
Wadi is an Iraqi-German organisation that supports a variety of programmes and projects across the Middle East, many of which are aimed at strengthening women’s and children’s rights through literacy, education, and trainings.
Iraq COI
Find Iraq Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated May 2023
