Iraqi council members see local government at work

Although you will not see it on the tv-news, there certainly are some positive developments going on in Iraq. Democracy is being developed on a local level in the 18 provinces of Iraq.

Iraqi povincial council members with mayor Wim Deetman in the City Hall of The Hague.

Last April, 32 members of the newly established Local Government Association took part in a study visit to The Netherlands. The association, which represents the interests of the democratically chosen provincial councils, came to The Netherlands to discuss structures and tasks of European local government associations with representatives from VNG (the association of Netherlands municipalities) and CEMR (the Council of European Municipalities and Regions). Besides, they paid working visits to a.o. the Province of South Holland, the Delfland waterboard and the municipality of The Hague, where they attended a municipal council meeting.

The study visit was organised by The Hague Academy for Local Governance, as part of the Local Government Programme for Iraq, carried out by RTI and VNG International.