Iraq’s Progress on Preventing Child Recruitment: Mercy Hands’ Perspective

Baghdad, September 1, 2025 — On Monday, the Guest House of the Prime Minister’s Office hosted a high-level national conference on Iraq’s efforts to prevent the involvement of children in armed conflicts. The conference was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and brought together senior government officials, United Nations representatives, diplomatic missions, and civil society organizations. Mercy Hands attended the conference following an invitation from the NGO Directorate (DNGO).

Deliberations focused on Iraq’s progress in implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005), which addresses the prevention of child recruitment in armed conflicts. Participants discussed national measures taken and explored ways to further strengthen institutional frameworks to protect children.

The conference also underscored the recent decision of the UN Secretary-General to remove Iraq from his annual report on countries where grave violations against children are documented. This decision was presented as an important milestone, demonstrating Iraq’s commitment to child protection, the promotion of human rights, and international cooperation.

At Mercy Hands, we recognize this step as a positive and expected development. 2014 was a devastating year for children in Iraq: ISIS occupied large parts of the country, and in response, a popular resistance movement known as the Popular Mobilization emerged. Both ISIS and Popular Mobilization groups recruited children during this period.

ISIS was militarily defeated in 2017, and in 2016 the Popular Mobilization was formally recognized by law as part of Iraq’s security forces, known as the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). After 2017, no new child recruitment cases by the PMU were reported, and those children who had joined earlier eventually reached adulthood. This reality explains in part why Iraq has now been delisted from the UN Secretary-General’s report.

While we welcome this progress, we believe the real celebration will come when Iraq successfully changes the prevailing culture, especially in rural areas, where teenage boys are still encouraged to carry weapons as a symbol of maturity and manhood. This harmful practice continues to normalize children’s association with armed groups.

At Mercy Hands, we remain committed to advocating for stronger state laws, raising public awareness, and working with government and international partners to build a future where no child in Iraq is exposed to recruitment, violence, or exploitation.

A meaningful gathering of government and civil society to support and protect children’s rights.

Mercy Hands participates in conversations on protecting children from armed conflict.

Genuine partnership in action to ensure children’s rights and secure their future.