Baghdad: The United Nations in Iraq hosted a Ramadan iftar gathering a select group of Iraqi journalists, media professionals, and influencers. The event was attended by Hind Jalal, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Iraq, Sandra Lattouf, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Iraq, Elleman Jaghan, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Christine Kuhl, Director of the Communications, Partnerships, and Advocacy Team, and John Allam, Director of Media and Communications at the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI).
According to National Iraqi News Agency, the meeting reviewed opportunities to enhance dialogue and cooperation with media professionals and influencers on issues affecting segments of Iraqi society, including supporting women’s health, family planning, youth empowerment, and the population census. These are issues that UNFPA works to address through reproductive health programs and addressing violence against women and girls.
Journalists expressed a number of observations and suggestions for sustaining and activating media cooperation across various sectors and programs undertaken by teams of international and UN organizations. This would contribute to the process of responding to and informing the Iraqi public of societal challenges, including population growth, climate change, reproductive health, women’s support, and youth empowerment. This is in addition to awareness and education campaigns in cooperation with universities, schools, educational institutions, and civil society organizations.
The discussion also addressed the importance of protecting children and providing them with a safe environment and quality education, a focus of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) through its programs in Iraq. The role of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in supporting economic and security reform, combating corruption, and enhancing social cohesion was highlighted, as well as ways to address climate change, which directly impacts the lives of communities.
For its part, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) stressed the importance of the media’s role in promoting stability and supporting the rule of law and human rights. It also praised the outcomes of the joint meeting, considering it an important opportunity to strengthen partnerships with journalists, media professionals, and influencers, who play a key role in spreading awareness and conveying effective societal messages.