The Public Aid Organization (PAO), in collaboration with the Council of Representatives – Left Side Office, organized a high-profile conference titled “Digital Prevention: Nineveh’s Shield Against Electronic Blackmail.” The event brought together a wide range of participants representing legislative, executive, academic, religious, and community institutions, aiming to enhance digital protection efforts and combat electronic blackmail across Iraq, focusing on Nineveh Governorate.
The conference witnessed the participation of prominent figures, including the Secretary-General of the Iraqi Council of Representatives, the Head of the Parliamentary Education Committee, the Head of the Regions Committee, the Deputy Chairman of the Nineveh Provincial Council, the Assistant Governor of Nineveh for Displaced Persons and NGOs Affairs, the Presidents of Mosul and Nineveh Universities, and the General Director of Nineveh Education. Representatives from security and governmental institutions also attended, along with religious leaders, tribal sheikhs, civil society organizations, and media activists.
The event opened with welcoming remarks from the organizers and official guests, who emphasized the urgent need to raise digital awareness and foster joint action across sectors to confront the growing threat of electronic blackmail, especially in areas recovering from conflict. This was followed by the screening of a documentary produced by the BBC, highlighting the rise of electronic blackmail in Iraq, exploring the methods used by perpetrators and the psychological and social toll on victims.
The conference featured focused discussion sessions addressing the challenges of unsafe digital transformation. Participants explored practical preventive strategies and discussed how to enhance digital literacy among various segments of society, particularly youth. Several actionable recommendations were presented to improve local policies related to digital safety and promote stronger collaboration between governmental and community-based actors.
The conference concluded with a ceremony honoring a number of supporting entities and active figures who contributed to the success of the event, reaffirming the importance of collective responsibility in safeguarding citizens from online threats and promoting a culture of prevention as a key component of societal security.
