The Conference, falling on the third anniversary of the fall of Mosul, was hosted by Ana Gomes and Elmar Brok, members of the European Parliament, and jointly organised by No Peace Without Justice (NPWJ), the Institute for International Law and Human Rights (IILHR), the Multinational Development Policy Dialogue of Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, the Unrepresented Nations and People’s Organisation (UNPO) and Minority Rights Group International (MRG).

Tens of thousands of persons belonging to Iraq’s ethnic and religious minorities have been murdered, maimed or abducted, including unknown numbers of women and girls forced into marriage or sexual enslavement, after the fall of Mosul in June 2014. The military operation to retake the city and remaining occupied areas in Ninewa governorate from ISIS is now in its seventh month. However, several important questions still remain. Post-ISIS planning in many respects has been subordinated to the need to keep anti-ISIS factions together, and there still appears to be no comprehensive Iraqi or international effort to build the political, social and economic conditions for the sustainable return of those who lost homes and livelihoods as a result of the conflict.

Against this bacdrop, the purpose of the conference was to advocate for thoughtful and realistic planning for the post-ISIS era. Building on the Paris Action Plan of September 2015, participants followed up on and further identified concrete Iraqi, European and international measures that can encourage sustainable returns and action to help build the basis for peace in Ninewa and other areas retaken from ISIS.

The conference gathered Iraqi government representatives and civil society activists, UN leaders from Baghdad and New York, MEPs, EU institutions and EU member states representatives. It was structured into three panels: 1) Supporting affected populations and facilitating durable solutions for those affected, including humanitarian, reconstruction, and post-conflict stabilization efforts; 2) Fighting impunity and ensuring justice; and 3) Preserving the diversity and plurality of Ninewa and the surrounding region.

Speakers included Adama Dieng, Secretary General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide, representing the United Nations Secretary General; Lise Grand, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq; Mohammad Ali Alnsour, Chief of Middle East and North Africa Section, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations; Mehdi Al Alack, Chief of Staff of Council of Ministers/Prime Minister, Government of the Republic of Iraq; Karim Sinjari, Interior Minister, Kurdish Regional Government; Sheikh Rahim Al Shammary, Chair of the Committee on Human Rights of the Iraqi Parliament; as well as Ala Talabani and Younadem Kanna, members of the Iraqi Parliament.