An important milestone has been marked in Iraq's journey toward supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of children deprived of their liberty for alleged involvement with terrorist groups: the handover of the newly refurbished Ninawa Observation House, a juvenile reformatory in Mosul that host approximately 300 children and young people, was held on 30 October.
The handover ceremony was attended by high-level representatives of national and international partners including the Ministry of Justice; European Union (EU); United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UN-Habitat. The event celebrated the conclusion of concerted efforts to improve the physical infrastructure of the reformatory; and to create a safe and supportive environment that is conducive to rehabilitation and reintegration.
Mr. Radu Butum, Head of the EU Liaison Office, emphasized the importance of the project, stating, “When we focus on the development of these children as individuals, this in turn enhances the well-being and stability of society as a whole. This approach aligns with our vision of achieving security and stability. Our partnership with UNODC and the Iraqi authorities has been invaluable in accomplishing this achievement and we look forward to further collaboration”.
The refurbishment of the reformatory was carried out as part of the EU funded project "STRIVE Juvenile: Preventing and Responding to Violence Against Children by Terrorist and Violent Extremist Groups" which is led by UNODC in partnership with the Government of Iraq. This initiative highlights the parties’ joint commitment to ensuring the effective rehabilitation and reintegration of those deprived of their liberty by providing good living conditions; access to education and marketable vocational skills training; health-care, freedom to practice religion; and regular and safe contact with families and with the wider community.
Mr. Mohamed Radi Bahr, Director General of the Juvenile Care Directorate under the Ministry of Justice, praised UNODC's leading role in the STRIVE Juvenile project, stating that this project “contributed creating an ideal environment that supports the growth of both staff and young people” and that "the developmental programs provided by UNODC were not merely passing initiatives; they were firm steps towards building a brighter future for our coming generations."
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ali El-Bereir, Head of UNODC in Iraq, emphasized the importance of this milestone. "The renovations we see today are part of UNODC’s continued efforts to support children and young people, ensuring that these reformatories provide not just safe environments, but also a space where children and young people can live with dignity and engage in meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration processes ,” said Mr. El-Bereir.
Among the significant renovations at the Ninawa Juvenile Reformatory are the addition of classrooms designed to create a conducive learning environment, along with a new gym and multipurpose hall that facilitate physical and recreational activities. Furthermore, the capacity for family visits has been increased by 60%, which strengthens the connection between the children and the outside world.
Dedicated spaces have also been established where social workers can meet with those deprived of their liberty, providing essential mental health and psychosocial support. The renovated washrooms promote good hygiene, while the installation of solar panels and new water tanks ensures a sustainable and secure supply of electricity and water. Notably, the solar power system installed is not only the first of its kind in a juvenile reformatory but also the largest hybrid system in Mosul. It is designed to generate enough electricity to cover the entire facility’s needs, with surplus energy being fed back into the national grid.
These renovations have been made possible through collaborative efforts with UN-Habitat since 2023, all aimed at enhancing the living conditions of the young people at the Ninawa Observation House.
"Through the work of modernizing spaces for learning, social interaction, and recreation, UN-Habitat is proud to be engaged in a project that provides these young people with better opportunities for social reintegration," shared Mr. Muslim Qazimi, Head of UN-Habitat Iraq, on the occasion.
Through the EU-funded project 'STRIVE Juvenile’, UNODC and Iraq are implementing important initiatives to prevent and respond to violence against children and young people in context of counter-terrorism. The project is dedicated to promoting rehabilitation and reintegration of children and young people in Mosul and Baghdad who are deprived of their liberty hence contributing for broader peace and reconciliation processes in Iraq.
