Living with Armed Groups in Iraq

Every day, civilians suffer at the hands of armies, militias or rebel forces. In conflicts around the world, the harm caused by these actors has left – and continues to leave – thousands dead or injured, and has resulted in property damage and the forced displacement of millions.

International and national laws exist to protect civilians during times of war. However, they often do not deter armed groups from harming civilians. In such contexts, different protection actors – like aid organizations, UN peacekeepers, or religious and community leaders – often try to influence warring parties to end their attacks on civilians.

As part of an ongoing research project that investigates how protection organizations can improve their work to keep civilian populations safe, we spoke to affected communities in Iraq to better understand what it is like to live in the presence of militias and other armed groups.

The resulting video gives voice to those living in areas of Iraq that used to be controlled by ISIS. It also offers a glimpse into what communities do to address harmful behavior by armed groups.

Learn more about the project and our findings here: https://gppi.net/project/protecting-c...

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Disclaimer: To protect those we interviewed for our research, the experiences narrated in this video are fictionalized. But the underlying stories are based on real people, experiences and events. The footage does not always correspond with the exact locations the protagonists are talking about.

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