Preventing Reprisals and Mitigating Violence in Iraq (PRMV)
Countering Violent Retribution in Liberated Provinces
Challenge
After the defeat of Islamic State in Iraq, many communities were subject to continuous marginalization and retributive attacks. Women, children, and the elderly were forced to live in camps and are not allowed to return home because a family member previously joined the terrorist organization. Their marginalization threatened to undermine the social cohesion of Iraqi communities, and if left unaddressed precipitate a deadly cycle of violence laying the groundwork for the resurgence of violent extremism in the country.
Approach
In partnership with Global Affairs Canada, DT Global reduced retributive attacks and violence against IS-affiliated families and increase4d condemnation of retribution across the liberated provinces of Anbar, Diyala and Ninewa. Towards these objectives, PRMV established eight grassroot civil-military crisis committees to create outlets for conflict resolution, prevent retributive violence through dialogue, and provide sustainable linkages to the local governance structures. These committees were comprised of influential men and women in the community, such as local council members, tribal leaders, prominent activists, journalists, and public servants, who could leverage their social capital to address the myriad of challenges faced by IS-affiliated families.
Further, PRMV launched a social media campaign (#counter-retribution) that raised awareness of retributive violence and promoted peace-building and social cohesion through a mixture of direct and indirect messaging. PRMV used a positive deviance approach to amplify these examples and highlight that peace and stability are achievable through unity, inclusivity, and tolerance.
Goals and Results
PRMV’s crisis committees addressed over 127 disputes and resolved nearly 90 cases, including obtaining civil documentation and security clearances, resolving property disputes over agricultural land and housing, and facilitating tribal negotiation to return IS-related families to their home of origin. Additionally, PRMV produced over 76 direct and indirect messages, including short videos and social media posts, to promote peace-building and social cohesion, as well as address the ongoing threats of IS resurgence. These messages were able to generate over 16 million views on the different social media platforms.