Iraq Access to Justice Program Quarterly Report April 1 — June 30, 2014

The program aims to improve access to justice for vulnerable populations in Iraq. The report highlights the program's activities and achievements during the quarter. Public awareness campaigns were a key component of the program, with joint efforts between government, civil society partners, and vulnerable populations to raise awareness about access to justice. Technical support was provided for needs assessments and advocacy initiatives, and joint public awareness campaigns were conducted in various provinces. The program also focused on legal education and services, with a strong emphasis on strengthening the capacities of partners. The Legal Clinic Network was established to provide legal aid to vulnerable populations, and a partnership was formed with Iraq's bar associations to promote sustainable legal aid. Curriculum reform and law school legal clinics were also implemented to train the lawyers of tomorrow. Advocacy and policy reform were another critical component of the program, with a focus on promoting the rights of vulnerable populations. The Legal Clinic Network Advocacy Committee was established to advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities, wives of missing husbands, and other vulnerable groups. The program also worked to secure sustainable funding for legal aid and awareness-raising activities, including local government fundraising and national government support. The program responded to the Iraq security and displacement crisis by partnering with civil society organizations and provincial governments to provide support to displaced populations. The program adapted its sub-grantee relationships in affected areas to support crisis response efforts and implemented strategic sustainability planning to ensure the long-term viability of the program. Monitoring and evaluation were critical components of the program, with a focus on improving the capacities of partners for improved monitoring and evaluation. The program implemented a monitoring and evaluation database and conducted site visits and M&E training for partners. Grants were also awarded to support sustainable funding, and a cost-share initiative was implemented to encourage local government funding. Implementation challenges were faced by the program, including programming delays, but the program continued to make progress in its activities. Upcoming program activities included public awareness campaigns, legal education and services, advocacy and policy reform, and crisis response efforts.