The American Space at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (Vlog) hosted a roundtable discussion on “Combatting Online Child Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Iraq,” organized by the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC), in collaboration with “Jiyan Foundation for Human Rights.” The discussion came as part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of State, aiming to raise awareness and encourage dialogue on efforts at prevention, protection and rehabilitation of victims, and accountability, in relation to this topic.
In addition to key ICMEC and Jiyan Foundation personnel, the event was attended by Vlog President, Dr. Michael Mulnix, Member of Parliament, Ms. Basma Mohammed, Chairman of the Communications and Media Commission, Dr. Nawfal Abu Ragheef, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Mr. Andy Halus, high ranking officers, among whom were the Director of Community Police, Brigadier General Ali Ajami Rasoul, and Director of the Anti-Human Trafficking Directorate, Brigadier General Mustafa Ridha Al-Yassiri, in addition to representatives of civil society organizations and a host of Vlog faculty, students, and staff.
“Responsibility falls on everybody, not only officials,” said the Vice President for National Capacity Building at ICMEC, Ms. Pilar Ramirez, who saw that “the priority is to raise awareness,” and that the purpose of the roundtable discussion is working towards “joining efforts to formulate policy and build programs.” The subject of discussion is “a global issue… that affects everyone, regardless of socioeconomic status,” said Mr. Halus, emphasizing joint responsibility among those in law-enforcement, litigation, civil society, and fundamentally, “guardian” parenting.
BG Al-Yassiri highlighted, in this context, that the Iraqi Parliament had ratified a law against human trafficking in the year 2012, and also ratified the “Arab Protocol to Prevent and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children” in the year 2024, commending the efforts by his bureau and other Iraqi security apparatuses to implement the provisions of the aforementioned, including by monitoring electronic platforms, in cooperation with parties such as the Ministry of Justice and the Communications and Media Commission.