You’re Invited to High Tea with a Delegation of Iraqi NGO Leaders

When: Thursday Feb. 9th, 2012 from 5pm to 7 pm

Where: 2040 S St. NW, Washington DC, 20009

(At the corner of Florida and Connecticut Ave., 3 blocks north of the Dupont Circle Metro Q St. exit)

The Charity & Security Network, 3P Human Security and the Mennonite Central Committee are hosting a delegation of Iraqi NGO leaders for tea, treats and a discussion on the current humanitarian situation in Iraq, the challenges of peacebuilding and development work, and what is needed to support Iraq’s long-term recovery. Participants include:

Ms. Hanaa Edwar– the secretary general of one of Iraq’s largest and oldest NGOs, the Iraqi Al-Amal Association, founded in 1992.  She has been a Human Rights, woman’s rights, and democracy activist for more than 40 years.  In 2011 she was awarded the Sean MacBride Peace Prize by the International Peace Bureau for her contribution “to the advancement of democracy and human rights,” and her “firm stand against violence and war.”  Hanaa has led campaigns in Iraq for women’s equality, enhancing women’s role in decision-making positions and in the constitutional process.  She was a founder of the “Civil Initiative to Preserve the Constitution,” which won an Iraqi Supreme Court lawsuit that forced the Iraqi Parliament to convene in late 2010.  Hanaa holds a law degree from Baghdad University.

Mr. Hashim al-Assaf -head of the Iraq office of the NGOs Coordination Committee for Iraq (NCCI), the main umbrella organization for Iraqi NGOs working in the country.  As Iraq Coordinator of NCCI, Hashim works to enhance cooperation among NGOs and to strengthen civil society participation in public policy-making in Iraq.  He and his staff at NCCI work to facilitate NGO relations with the Government of Iraq and are advocates for humanitarian work and the protection of human rights. Hashim has designed and implemented training sessions for Iraqi NGO staff on human rights, non-profit management, monitoring and evaluation, conflict resolution, and other topics.

Mr. Abdulsatar Younis–  the coordinator of the Iraqi Kurdistan NGOs Network (IKNN), the voluntary association established as an umbrella network to support Kurdish and Arab NGOs registered with the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG).  IKNN has helped shape the new KRG law regulating NGOs in the region.  Abdulsatar is also the Erbil coordinator of the Iraq-wide “La Onf” (Non-Violence) network.  He was the principle organizer of the October 2011 “First Iraqi International Marathon in Erbil for Peace and Nonviolence” sponsored by La Onf, which attracted hundreds of runners and received extensive coverage in the local media.  During his five-year tenure at the head of IKNN Abdulsatar has also played a key role in election monitoring in Erbil.

Ms. Noof Assi- a Baghdad activist who last year monitored and reported on the Arab Uprisings demonstrations in Baghdad. She has conducted human rights, citizenship, and conflict management training for Iraqi youth and women and taken part in advocacy activities on the problems facing Iraqi youth. Over the past four years Noof has participated in numerous training sessions offered by the National Democratic Institute in Iraq and other groups. She is also a former blogger and radio program presenter and has participated in the youth programs of the Beirut-based Arab Thought Foundation. Noof is currently working with Iraqi Al-Amal Association, one of Iraq’s largest and oldest NGOs.