EXCLUDED FROM
participants in FDGs - whether still displaced
or having returned home - as being required to
secure employment, particularly in the formal
sector. This suggests that if more jobs and
small business opportunities become available
in the future, whether through potential foreign
investment or World Bank or UNDP job creation
schemes in the formal market, lack of civil
documentation would be a significant barrier
for paperless people benefitting from these.
In focus group discussions with displaced men
from Al Senya sub-district, Baiji, and Hawija
residing in Tikrit in Salah Al-Din, it was reported
that common misconceptions of IDPs and their
areas of origin affect their access to livelihood
opportunities. They also said that the fact that
they were IDPs put them at increased risk of
exploitation, and they received lower wages
than members of the host community.
EMPLOYMENT AT OIL REFINERY IN BAIJI
Individuals interviewed in Baiji reported
that while many youth applied for jobs at
the Oil Refinery in Baiji, their applications
were rejected due to the fact that
governmental institutions require the four
standard ID documents, together with
security clearance. One male interviewed
mentioned that specific employment
opportunities within the Oil Refinery
(construction/ maintenance work being
under daily labour contracts) are subject
to obtaining a security check from the
Ministry of Oil in Baghdad, through
coordination with the National Security
Directorate in Baghdad.
FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
Enjoyment of basic human rights, such as the
freedom of movement, is denied to paperless
PUBLIC SERVICES AND INSTITUTIONS | 17
people in Iraq. Most people reported that
a combination of the civil ID and security
clearance was required to pass through
checkpoints in areas formerly controlled by IS.
In focus group discussion, people also linked
this to fear of arrest or detention at check
points for those without documentation.
In Mosul city, displaced people, returnees, and
those who never left noted that significant
delays in renewing their civil documents
rendered them trapped where they were, due
to fear of arrest or detention if they tried to
pass through a checkpoint without documents.
In these cases, the curtailed freedom of
movement resulted in people being able
to travel for work, leaving them without an
income source. In Salah Al-Din, people reported
facing difficulties traveling from Baiji to Tikrit
as checkpoints do not recognise ‘security
clearance’ issued by the Intelligence Office of
Baiji. Some reported requiring an additional
‘security slip’ from Tikrit or sponsorship from a
resident of Al-Alam, or having to leave their civil
IDs at the checkpoint in Al-Alam if staying more
than a day.
THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT
The right to freedom of movement is
enshrined in the Iraq Constitution (2005) in
two articles. Article 44(1) guarantees the
right to freedom of movement, travel and
residence for every Iraqi. Article 24 obliges
the Iraqi State to guarantee freedom of
movement of the Iraqi workforce. This is
in keeping with Iraq’s international legal
obligations under the International Covenant
on Civil and Political Rights. In addition, the
Iraq National Policy on Displacement (July
2008) re-iterates the right of all displaced
people to enjoy freedom of movement
(paragraph 6.9), reflecting Iraq’s obligations
under the Guiding Principles on Internal
Displacement.