On the occasion of International Women’s Day, a high-level conference was held to launch the report of the implementation of NAP 1325 on 7-8 March 2018 in Iraq under the patronage of H.E. Prime Minister of Iraq, Dr. Hayder Al-Abadi. The Conference was supported by Euromed Feminist Initiative with the financial contribution of Dutch Embassy, UK Embassy, and UN Women. It aimed to enrich the draft national report with input from local communities, civil society and women IDP and refugees themselves.
Euromed Feminist Initiative IFE-EFI has supported the work of the Cross-Sector Task Force since 2012. Furthermore, it supported the CSTF in reporting on the implementation of NAP 1325.
The conference was opened by the Prime Minister of Iraq, H.E. Dr. Hayder Al Abadi, who greeted the audience and stressed the essential role of women in the rebuilding, leadership and reconstruction process. In addition, he pointed out that terrorist gangs tried to push women into isolation, slavery and murder of life, but women proved to be stronger than tyrants.
During the first day, the Government of Iraq and CSTF shared the preliminary outcomes, lessons learned, and conclusions of the draft national report on the implementation of the first NAP 1325. Representatives of the international community expressed their commitment to support women’s rights and their participation in the process of peacebuilding in Iraq as well as in the upcoming phase of the development of the second NAP. The international community opening remarks were addressed by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Mr. Jan Kubiš, British Ambassador to Iraq, Jon Wilks, Charge d’Affairs of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Marielle Geraedts, Executive Director of Euromed Feminist Initiative, Ms. Boriana Jonsson and by the Country Director of UN Women, Ms. Dina Zorba.
Ms. Boriana Jonsson, Executive Director of IFE-EFI underlined two points that are making Iraqi NAP unique: the inclusivity during its development and implementation, involving broad cross-sector cooperation as well as the important role of the civil society that for the first time is structurally included in the Cross-Sector Task Force. This process enabled broad ownership which on its part attracted over 22 ministries and institutions to become members of the CSTF, which is an example that has been discussed in the whole region and wider internally.
At the end of the first day, the Ministerial follow-up teams discussed how the implementation of the NAP influenced the situation on the ground.
During the second day, the Ministerial Follow-up teams evaluated the processes of implementing and monitoring INAP 1325 (WPN). Furthermore, the civil society contribution to the implementation of the NAP 1325 was highlighted and the role of local self-government, Provincial Councils, camps leaders and civil Society was underlined.
The conference enabled civil society and other actors on the national and local levels as well as active women IDPs and refugees themselves to provide their input and comments in order to enrich the national report. It also provided an opportunity for local partners to give input and share their reflections based on the realities women face every day: leaders of camps and municipalities, as well as women IDPs and refugees themselves. Furthermore, the conference showcased success stories of women who are role models in their communities and contributed to promoting women as major actors for change in their country.
