NASUWTThe Teachers’ Unionorganised with support from

PROGRAMME

Two-day Conference:

Iraq: Where to Now? 12 Years after the invasion

Vision, Challenges and the Way Forward

10 and 11 April 2015

TUC Congress HouseCongress House

Great Russell StreetLondon

WC1B 3LS

Iraq: Where to Now? 12 Years after the invasion

Vision, Challenges and the Way Forward

The seminars coincide with the twelfth anniversary of the invasion of our country, Iraq, bythe United States and its allies, and the fall of the dictatorial regime on 9 April 2003.

In pursuit of its aims, the "Committee of the Iraqi Democratic Current in the UnitedKingdom" is seeking to bring together some of the debates on the available options to comeout of the acute crises in our country, Iraq.

The seminars will address these complex crises, whether political, economic, social, andeducational or health and those brought about by the sectarian-ethnic power-sharing systemwith dangerous repercussions on the role of the state and its standing. Our country is alsofacing a fierce onslaught by the terrorist bandits of "Daesh" (the so-called ISIS).

These conditions put us all in a position of responsibility to provide a vision to save Iraq ata most critical crossroad in its modern history.

Whilst the aim of the seminars, which are held on the 10 and 11 of April 2015, is to providea vision of the reality of Iraq through three main themes, political social and economic, andother sub-themes, the seminars will converge at the pivotal, all-encompassing question:"Iraq, Where to?"

Our call stems from a clear patriotic position which has been adopted and declared on morethan one occasion by the Iraqi Democratic Current since its inception. The Iraqi DemocraticCurrent bases its policies on the rejection of sectarian and ethnic power-sharing system andon strengthening the role of the modern civil state. It is the duty of all political and civilsociety activists, intellectuals, professionals, academics and specialists to present their viewsand visions, from a historic patriotic and moral responsibility position, in order to collectivelyidentify the problems and the difficulties faced by our people, and to propose solutionsaccompanied by implementation mechanisms.

All the studies and discussions will be collated and, subsequently, published to present analternative political, economic and social roadmap aimed at enhancing the status of the"democratic civil state” because "Iraq deserves the best".

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NASUWTThe Teachers’ Unionorganised with support from

The Seminars’ Programme

Day One: Friday 10 April 2015

10:00 – 10:30 Reception and Registration

10:30 – 11:30 (Proceedings in English)Opening and Introduction by the Organising committeeContribution from the British Teachers’ Union (NASUWT)Contribution by Father Dawood Toma of The Syrian Orthodox Church in BritainContribution by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office – Iraq Desk (to be confirmed)

11:30 – 13:00 Paper by: Mr Raid Fahmi Secretary of the Higher Executive Committee of the Iraqi Democratic Current:“The Form of the State that Iraqi Democratic Current Seeks to Build A Vision of thePolitical Process: Reform or Change”

Chair: Brian Cookson, National Treasurer (NASUWT)

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

All following papers will be delivered in Arabic

14:15 – 15:15 First Seminar: Room APaper by: Member of Iraqi Parliament Ms Sherouq Al-Abaichi“The role of Parliament and legislative oversight, obstacles and solutions”

Chair: Dr Ahmad Ali Ibrahim, Member of the Executive Committee of the IraqiDemocratic Current

14:15 – 15:15 First Seminar: Room BA paper by: Dr Faleh Abdul Jabar, Researcher & Director of the Iraqi Studies Institute:“The concept of community division on the basis of religious and sectarian identities –the escalating rates after 9th April 2003”

Chair: Professor Sami Zubaida, Birkbeck, University of London.

15:15 – 15:30 Coffee Break

15:30 – 17:00 Second Seminar: Room A

A paper by: Mr Dia Al-Shakarchi, democrat and researcher in Islamic affairs:“Sectarian tendencies and their Impact in today’s Iraq”

Chair: Ms. Wafa Al-Rubaie, Member of the Iraqi Democratic Current in Germany

15:30 – 17:00 Second Seminar: Room B

A paper by: Iraqi Trade UnionsMr Ahmed Jassam Salih, Professional Office of the Iraqi Teachers Union:“The role of the trade unions in the social cohesion and democracy-building”

Chair: Mr Abdullah Muhsin (NASUWT)

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Day Two: Saturday 11 April 2015

10:00 – 11:30 First Seminar: Room A

EducationPaper by: Professor Sabah Jassim, University of Buckingham, visiting lecturer at City Uni-versity, London, and Fachhochschule Wedel, Germany“The State of Higher Education in Iraq”

Paper by: Professor Abdullah Al-Mousawi, Educational Psychology“Why the invasion of Iraq was speeded up? Psychological effects on the state of theeducational process”

Chair: Professor Ghazi Derweesh, Surrey University

10:00 – 11:30 First Seminar: Room B

Paper by: Dr Saad Al-Ubaidi, Researcher in Military Affairs“The Basis Required to Restructure the Military and Security Establishment in Iraq”

Chair: Dr. Aquil Al-Nasiri, Researcher and Democratic activist

11:30 – 12:00 Coffee Break

12:00 – 13:30 Second Seminar: Room A

On GenderPaper by: Ms Haifa Ameen, Parliamentary candidate for Democratic Civil Coalition:“The state of women after the American occupation of Iraq - The strength of the tribal traditions- Laws protecting women rights - Personal experience”

On The MinoritiesPaper by: Father Nadheer Dako, Patron of the Chaldean Church in the UK:"The state of indigenous constituents of Iraqi society 12 years after the invasion ofIraq”

Chair: Dr Shatha Besarani, Civil society activist

12:00 – 13:30 Second Seminar: Room B

On Economy Paper by: Kamil Al-Athath, Ex. Regional Advisor to the ESCWA“Restructuring of the Iraqi economy – State role and proposed privatisation projects”

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On HealthPaper by: Professor Salman Al-Rawaf, Professor of General Medicine and director of theCooperation Centre with the World Health Organisation in Britain – Imperial College,London:“The state of health in Iraq and ways to improve it”

Chair: Dr. Majid Al-Yasiri, Psychiatrist

13:30 – 14:30 Lunch

14:30 Press ConferenceMr Raid Fahmi, Secretary of the Higher Executive Committee of the Iraqi DemocraticCurrentMS Sherouq Al-Abaichi, Iraqi Democratic Civil Coalition MPMr Majeed Al-Haj Hmood, Secretary of the National Democratic PartyMr Faysal Abdullah, Coordinator, Committee of the Iraqi Democratic Current in UK

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