Cities age like people — slowly, then all at once. The old quarter still breathes beneath its cracked stones, holding memories no one bothered to archive. Every dusk, the rooftops glow with that soft ember-colored light, the kind that makes you pause even if life’s been beating you sideways. Folks walk those narrow streets like they’re chasing ghosts, or maybe just chasing who they used to be. There’s a charm to places that refuse to keep up with the modern rush, standing firm like stubborn elders who’ve seen too much to be impressed by neon. And honestly, that’s why this place pulls you in. It whispers stories without trying, stories carved into every doorway, every worn stair. When the night finally settles and the lights flicker on, you feel a warmth that doesn’t ask for anything — it just reminds you where you came from.
Apr 9, 2018
Apr 1, 2018
8 Sep 2003
SHOTLIST
1. US Iraq Administrator Paul Bremer and Nesreen Berwari, Iraqi Public Works Minister
2. Cutaway cameraman
3. SOUNDBITE (English) – Paul Bremer, US Civilian Administrator:
“The President of the United States last night announced a major initiative, a request to the American people and Congress of more than twenty (b) billion dollars for the reconstruction of Iraq. This is one of the largest non-military budget requests in American history. It amounts to more than ten times more than the United States has ever spent in a year in any country and it is a clear, dramatic illustration of the fact that the American people are going to finish the job we started when we liberated Iraq here some four months ago; and it is a clear step, another step along the path to Iraqi sovereignty.”
4. Media looking on
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nesreen Berwari, Public Works Minister:
“It’s a historic moment because as an Iraqi taking charge of my Iraqi citizens’ affairs day to day services. It’s historic because we have been always dreaming for this day, the vision that we want to apply in our ministry in day to day activity is to reach as much as possible to the population and serve them, improve water, improve sanitation, create jobs through the implementation of projects and we will be doing this in close co-operation with the municipal councils being created across the region and also the involvement of the communities. We want to involve the people of Iraq in planning their needs in implementing their projects and in managing their own affairs.”
6. Security guards looking on
7. SOUNDBITE (English) – Paul Bremer, US Civilian Administrator:
“And the final step on the path to sovereignty will be when the Coalition Authority as is foreseen in both international law and the relevant UN resolutions, will hand full sovereignty back to that Iraqi government. There is a clear path ahead Madam minister, as we discussed, to the return of full sovereignty to you and to the Iraqi people and we look forward to working with you and your colleagues in the cabinet as we proceed down that path. Thank you.”
8. Bremer and Berwari leave
STORYLINE
The U.S. administrator for Iraq told officials Monday that the United States had committed an unprecedented sum for rebuilding the country.
After a meeting with Iraq’s new Public Works Minister Nesreen Berwari, a Kurdish woman, L. Paul Bremer promised the United States would not leave Iraq before its mission was complete.
Bremer’s remarks amplified on those of U.S. President George W. Bush, who told the American people on Sunday night he would ask Congress for $87 billion US dollars for the next fiscal year for the military occupation and reconstruction of Iraq.
Of the total request, $21 billion US dollars would go for rebuilding.
22 Sep 2003
SHOTLIST
1. US President George W Bush with ministers in Oval Office
2. Cutaway
3. Cutaway
4. Cutaway media
5. SOUNDBITE (English) – George W Bush, US President:
“These two good souls have found that the system they inherited wasn’t conducive to taking care of the citizens. Infrastructure was old and tired, power was centralised, really they inherited the system of a corrupt tyrant and their job now is to improve life, and I love their spirit. I love the fact that they are dedicated to doing their jobs, and I also appreciate the appraisal of what is going on in Iraq, the assesment that we are making good progress towards achieving our objective and thank you for all coming here to America. We’re proud of you, we’re proud of you being pioneers for a free people. Welcome, if you would like to say a few words madam minister.”
6. SOUNDBITE (English) – Nesreen Berwari, Iraqi Public Works Minister:
“Forming the government and Iraqis taking care of their own affairs has been received very well by the Iraqi people. A sense of progress is being sensed on the streets of Iraq. More work has been done, work on restoring services to pre-war levels has been achieved. Now we are working on planning for the next year’s programme. We have great plans to improve services. Our mission is to show a different government. We want to tell Iraqis that the change that happened four months ago is for their own benefit through improving the public service.”
7. Cutaway Condoleezza Rice, Dick Cheney and Carl Rove
8. SOUNDBITE (English) – Ayham Sameraei, Iraqi Electricity Minister:
“This is the freedom that we missed before and we got it over the last five months. If the Iraqi people and the Americans help us for the next year and a half, I almost gaurantee it, I garauntee it to the president, I almost garauntee it to the American people that we will have a different Iraq. Iraq will going to help the US and free world nd the area becuse we are going to build a democracy in Iraq which will become an example for all the Middle East areas and all the countries around us.”
9. Bush with ministers
STORYLINE
George W. Bush cited “good progress” in Iraq as he met with two visiting Iraqi ministers in the Oval Office on the eve of his speech to the UN.
He met with two officials from Iraq chosen by the Governing Council, Public Works Minister Nesreen Berwari and Electricity Minister Ayham Sameraei.
Both agreed with the administration’s contention that more time is needed before Iraqis receive full self-control.
“We only need help in the beginning and then we’ll do it ourselves,” said Berwari. The two are part of an Iraqi delegation seeking to claim Iraq’s U.N. seat on Tuesday.
“These two good souls found that the system they inherited was not conducive for taking care of the citizens,” Bush said. “I love their spirit. I love the fact that they are dedicated to doing their jobs.”
“I also appreciate the appraisal of what’s going on in Iraq, the assessment that we’re making good progress toward achieving our objectives,” Bush said.
Apr 22, 2013
A Director’s Forum with Nesreen Berwari, Minister for Municipalities and Public Works, Iraq.
Dec 14, 2016
There are 21M refugees and 40M internally displaced people around the world in need of solidarity. Yet this is a small portion of the people on the move globally. How can modern urban planning and service management provide support effectively and move from an emergency mode to sustainability and inclusion? The session will explore the challenges of municipalities affected by very rapid population growth through displacement and forced migration.
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Mar 26, 2021
Women have been increasingly contributing to the vision of better cities and inspiring others to do the same. This year, in celebration of InternationalWomensDay, UN-Habitat Regional Office for Arab States will celebrate women’s achievements in creating safer, more inclusive, sustainable, and resilient communities in the Arab region. The theme of this year’s IWD is “Women in Leadership”, and the “Women Changing Cities” video series will showcase experiences of inspirational female figures across the region who led the way for change in their communities, cities, and countries.
Wednesday, May 27, 2020 9:00am-10:15am EDT
There is a critical window of opportunity post-conflict to ensure that economic recovery is inclusive and climate-resilient. Leading experts discussed how economic recovery investments can foster women’s livelihoods and economic empowerment – especially in climate-vulnerable sectors and communities. The panel identified entry-points and measures for ensuring that women are both beneficiaries and active participants in the decision-making and implementation of economic recovery programs in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and energy. It also addressed the impacts of COVID-19 on post-conflict economic recovery, as well as prospects for advancing gender equality and resiliency.
Co-Author: Dr. Nesreen Barwari, Kroc Institute for Peace, San Diego University 2023
Women peacebuilders inevitably face risks and insecurity in their daily work. International partners have an important role to play in supporting their safety and protection. Understanding women peacebuilders’ roles and the types of risks they face is the first step in ensuring an adequate response. The diversity of roles that women peacebuilders play, as well as the multiple factors that impact the types of risks they might face, need to be taken into account by international partners from the very beginning of a partnership.
Building Holistic Security: Addressing Security Risks of Women Peacebuilders Through Partnerships addresses how international partners who wish to work with women peacebuilders and support them in addressing the risks and insecurity they face need to recognize the scope and nature of peacebuilding work, which is often cross-cutting, overlapping with humanitarian response and development work. Understanding the nuances and breadth of women peacebuilders’ work is crucial to identifying the risks they face and providing them with effective legal, political and financial protection — and is thereby essential to creating partnerships that mitigate and address these risks. Through case studies, the report identifies challenges and opportunities drawn directly from the lived realities of women peacebuilders and their partners, as well as from experts working in the Women, Peace and Security field.
Nesreen Barwari
With over 30 years of experience across humanitarian, public, and academic sectors, she has devoted her career to promoting conflict management, good governance, and community development in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
My Memoir
Born in Baghdad in 1967, Nesreen’s memoir unfolds the journey of a Kurdish woman forging her identity in the shadow of war, loss, and resilience. From childhood, her mother’s vivid tales and her family’s legacy of endurance taught her that survival and selfhood are woven from the threads of memory.
