16 March 2023, Baghdad, Iraq - UNFPA Iraq and Viber have officially launched a social media awareness campaign to promote information-sharing on early marriage in Iraq. The campaign seeks to engage young people in an easy and interactive approach, providing them with the necessary knowledge and information to make informed choices about their lives.

The initiative is part of UNFPA's efforts to reduce early marriage in Iraq, which affects girls disproportionately, has a serious negative impact on their health, education, and prospects. Through the campaign, UNFPA and Viber aim to increase understanding of the risks associated with early marriage and to provide young people with resources and support to resist pressure to marry before they are ready.

"We are delighted to partner with Viber on this important initiative to raise awareness on early marriage and empower young people with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed choices about their lives," said Mr. Nestor Owomuhangi, UNFPA Representative in Iraq. "By leveraging the power of social media, we can reach more young people than ever before and help them build a brighter future for themselves and their communities."

"We are excited to collaborate with UNFPA on this initiative to support young people in Iraq," said Atanas Raykov VP of Growth, Key Markets at Rakuten Viber. "We believe that by using our platform to share information and create interactive experiences, we can help raise awareness and promote positive change in the country."

The campaign will feature a series of social media posts and interactive content, including videos, still designs, a pack of Viber stickers and chatbots designed to engage and educate young people in Iraq. The content will be available on UNFPA Iraq’s Channel on Viber's platform. Viber is one of the top communication apps in the region.

*******

For more information or media inquiries, please get in touch with:

Sana Jalal, Communications Consultant, karwan@unfpa.org

Nadia El Ubaydi, Growth Director for MENA Region, nadia@viber.com