Between August and December 2025, the EU-UN Global Terrorism Threats Facility ¡ª a flagship initiative funded by the European Union and implemented by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), continued to support the Government of the Republic or Iraq in its efforts to accelerate the voluntary repatriation and reintegration of Iraqi nationals from Al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria.

The Facility delivered eight specialized, three-day training sessions to four groups of personnel from security agencies of the Republic of Iraq involved in this complex process. The training sessions focused on ethical interviewing techniques, trauma-informed practices, managing secondary trauma, and adopting culturally sensitive, victim-centred approaches. Through role-play scenarios and peer-based learning, a total of 61 participants, including 12 women, from Baghdad, Ninawa, Al-Anbar, Salah al-Din, Diyala, and Babel, were able to strengthen their emotional resilience and improve their communication with returnees.

These sessions provided participants with a conducive and structured space to discuss challenges encountered in their work and to reflect on their roles in facilitating effective reintegration from returnees and their families. Participants identified practical obstacles, gained insight into the psychosocial strain they experience, and agreed on ways to enhance the coordination of reintegration efforts.

By the end of the sessions, participants had successfully demonstrated their understanding of the ethical principles involved in conducting respectful, non-stigmatizing interviews; their ability to recognize and regulate emotions in difficult professional situations; and their knowledge of psychological trauma and its effects.