Women’s rights defenders demonstrate against increased violence and religious leaders attitude and position against gender equality issues. Erbil, 2011. Photo: Rezhin Farhad/Asuda.
Participants from the Women’s Leadership Institute at the 2012 Young Women’s Leadership Forum in Baghdad. Foto: Hiba Nabel.
Street life, Erbil, 2011. Photo: The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation.
Workshop with young women from Amez in Halabja. Photo: Awaz Dilani/Amez.
Iraq
The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation has cooperated with women’s organisations in Iraq since 2005. In 2011, we opened an office in Erbil.
Women’s status in conflict-torn Iraq has steadily deteriorated and today many women face constant threats to their safety. Women standing as candidates in elections have been threatened by religious extremists, who believe that all women should stay at home, and recurrent attacks against minorities severely limits the freedom of movement for women from these groups.
Nevertheless, women continue to risk their lives to work for peace and human rights. They believe that there are no alternatives to dialogue and cooperation, if the country is to be transformed from chaos into a society where women can feel safe and have the right to determine their own path in life.
Women’s organisations’ in Iraq are very much in need of support. Many ask The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation for help, since the women’s situation in the country is not being addressed adequately, neither by the Iraqi authorities nor by the international community or international organisations.
Senast uppdaterad: 2013-04-02