LocationsDiscovering New Professional Avenues and Unlocking Iraq's Business Potential: Award-Winning Future Lawyers Zahraa Amer and Mandana Saman Abdulla
October 16, 2024
Zahraa Amer in the middle
"It was incredibly rewarding to win a special award in Vienna and be recognized at an international level! Representing Iraq for the first time in such a prestigious competition was an absolute honor," shares Zahraa Amer. "This experience made me realize that Iraq is full of untapped potential and hidden talents. All we need is a little push in the right direction, just like the support my team and I received from UNDP Iraq."
Zahraa, a recent law graduate, participated in the IBA-VIAC CDRC International Mediation & Negotiation Competition in Vienna, Austria. This marked Iraq's first appearance at the event, and the team brought home an award for Best Mediator Opening Statement, recognizing their professional excellence.
Mandana Saman Abdulla in the middle
Similarly, Mandana Saman Abdulla takes pride in representing Iraq on a global stage. She competed in the International Investor-State Mediation Competition in Colombo, Sri Lanka. "The competition was a highlight, a culmination, filled with both victories and lessons learned. And certainly, I loved exploring Colombo, a city so far from Iraq, and connecting with amazing people worldwide," she says. Mandana and her team earned a special award for Distinction in Mediation Advocacy.
Zahraa Amer with the Iraqi team heading to the competition venue in Vienna, Austria.
Mediation as a way of life and as a tool for legal professionals
Both Zahraa and Mandana, future lawyers of Iraq, are now determined to contribute to the country’s efforts to build a robust legal framework that will enable foreign investors to trust the Iraqi market.
Along with other students from 9 universities, they attended UNDP's workshops on Commercial Mediation and Negotiation Techniques. Following the workshops, UNDP supported their coaching and preparation for international competitions, where they showcased the skills they had gained.
Zahraa reflects on her experience, which encouraged her to pursue a career in commercial dispute resolution: "The whole journey opened my perspective to something I had never been exposed to before: The concept, skills and culture of dispute resolution. As lawyers, we are only taught how to fight legal arguments, but often missing the commercial perspective and non-commercial interests that the client may have, e.g. to maintain a good reputation, to keep the relationships, etc. The training made me realize that understanding the other party’s perspective may often be a much more efficient strategy to protect the interests of my client. This was an eye-opening experience, and I am committed to pursuing a career in this field."
"Mediation in a legal context was completely new to me, and I was perhaps even sceptical in the beginning, and at the same time eager to explore its essence and potential impact in Iraq," explains Mandana. “As a result of the exercises and multiple rounds of role-plays, where I got the chance to participate in the process from the perspective of a party representative, I realized how much we may be missing by simply refusing to listen. The skills I learned are life skills that will be useful in many contexts.” Zahraa adds, "Iraq needs legal professionals with the knowledge and skills to advocate for and engage in modern efficient dispute resolution techniques like mediation. This will help business solve their differences swiftly, with less cost and to maintain commercial relationships, where they may be valuable."
Mandana is also looking forward to Iraq's progress in this field. "For Iraq to take its rightful place in international forums, we need comprehensive, robust laws on mediation, arbitration, and development of efficient commercial dispute resolution methods. These mechanisms will enable faster and credible solutions to business disputes, making the market more attractive, reliable, and safe for foreign investors."
As young people we are the future
Both young women see a bright future for Iraq through the development of its business sector. "We envision Iraq with a strong and diversified economy. A well-developed business sector can unlock Iraq’s potential, improve lives, and strengthen our country against conflicts. To realize this vision, investment in youth must be a priority. As young people, we are the future. We have the will and the potential to drive change," Zahraa emphasizes.
Mediation, not meditation
People often confuse mediation with meditation, but what exactly is mediation, and why is it important for Iraq? Mediation is a process in which a neutral third party helps two disputing sides talk through their issues, negotiate, assess risks, and find solutions that benefit both parties. This process maintains, restores, and strengthens business or personal relationships. This process of commercial dispute resolution enables businesses to solve their disputes quicker and more efficiently, rather than going into the bureaucracy of the local courts.
Through its Anti-Corruption and Arbitration Initiatives, funded by the European Union, UNDP Iraq is working to create an investor-friendly market by developing the country's Commercial Dispute Resolution framework. This includes supporting legal reforms, such as Iraq’s new Arbitration Law and Iraq’s recent signing of the Singapore Convention on Mediation. UNDP has also been empowering Iraq’s future lawyers, like Zahraa and Mandana, by providing capacity-building workshops and facilitating their participation in international commercial dispute resolution competitions.