BARRIERS TO SOLUTIONS | 21 at other directorates would often check their names against a security database before providing them with services. INABILITY TO TRAVEL TO AREAS OF ORIGIN CREATES ADDITIONAL BARRIERS Security concerns were also mentioned as one of the main obstacles toward obtaining documentation. Research participants mentioned that the civil ID requires security documents (letters/stamps) from both the Intelligence Office of their area of origin, as well as from the Police station (when civil ID, residency card or PDS are missing). One participant further stated that such procedures are “the result of IS control over [their] areas of origin”. For instance, participants originally from Senya mentioned that through the process of obtaining documentation, they have to return to their area of origin, which falls under control of three different Popular Mobilisation Forces. Participants also reported fearing processing legal identity and civil documents and seeing their names matching the “security database” held by the Intelligence Office. Criteria determining who is added to the national security database is unclear and the accuracy of this database has been called into question. Placing an individual on the list offers ample opportunity for exploitation, as it appears no actual evidence of claims is required to be presented in the process. The process lacks the most fundamental safeguards and it is nearly impossible to appeal or undo. OBTAINING DEATH OR MISSING PERSONS CERTIFICATES Without death or missing person certificates, paperless people cannot access the documents they need. Where families have missing or dead relatives – as is now unfortunately very common in areas formerly occupied by IS – Iraqi authorities will not issue a death certificate without locating the body. In Mosul, participants noted the difficulty in finding and identifying bodies following the military operation to retake the city, which has delayed the issuance of death certificates. If no proof of the death exists, an individual must declare a person missing for a set period of time before a court will agree to issue a death certificate. This involves an application to a local police station, with either two male witnesses or four female witnesses, informing them of the circumstances under which the person went missing. The Criminal Investigations Court then opens a file on the case and the family subsequently is required to post a public notice of the missing person in local newspapers. In theory, after two years of no news from the missing person, a relative will be able to request from the Personal Status Court that the missing person be declared dead, but the reality is this usually takes up to four years. This then impacts the ability to issue a number of other documents, including birth certificates and new civil IDs for children (where the father is missing or dead). It also impacts women’s ability to access services, where key documentation was issued in their husbands’ names. Female participants also pointed to requiring their fathers’ documentation in certain cases. Without a death certificate, participants could not claim unpaid salaries of their spouses.