Iraqi women are partners and leaders in facing crises, building peace, reconstruction, and consolidating justice
On the occasion of International Women's Day, we extend our warmest congratulations to the women in Iraq including Kurdistan region and the world for their courageous and exceptional efforts and for their important pioneering roles to support the development movement in all different areas of life, such as the economic crisis and the health crises represented by COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, as we are celebrating International Women's Day on the 8th of March 2021, we would like to draw attention to the important and courageous roles that Iraqi women have played. Their record was and will remain, full of struggle and continuous effort to map a country that promotes social justice.
As well as their important role in many essential areas such as human life, politics, culture, and civil life, and in raising awareness in the society on the importance of peace culture, dialogue and peaceful coexistence, and the values of understanding, tolerance, and reconciliation.
Iraqi women have drawn unforgettable new paths for themselves through their pioneering participation in the freedom of expression and what was effectively distinguished by them in the protest movement that called for change and reform of the political process, and they worked with determination and courage in facing Covid-19 disease by launching thousands of humanitarian initiatives to support families affected by the virus, especially the families who are supported by women, which require making plans that meet the needs of the toiling Iraqi family and those with limited income.
We are sorry to say that in reality, women are facing frequent violations in Iraq, therefore, we urge the Iraqi Parliament to speed up the endorsement of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law, taking more serious steps to provide safe spaces, and launching empowerment and rehabilitation programs to mitigate and compensate, in addition to the importance of securing women and girls in the areas that are still witnessing security threats, including safe cities.
We, as the 1325 Alliance, emphasize the importance of following up with the implementation of the international conventions and resolutions that support the strengthening of women’s roles and ensuring their political participation, and contributing to laying the right foundations for building democracy and a civil state. We also emphasize the importance of paying efforts to participate as women organizations and defenders of women’s issues and human rights in achieving social justice and we call the Federal Government and the relevant authorities to take serious measures to increase women's participation in all decision-making positions and support them in the early Iraqi elections.
We also call on ending violence against women and girls by activating punitive laws, prosecuting perpetrators, abolishing the legal texts that provoke violence, and legislating laws that protect women’s humanity and dignity, and we also emphasize the importance of securing the lives of the returnees and providing them with all the assurance as well as enhancing their role in the reconstruction and stability process, and provide complete support to the affected and vulnerable families due to the continuing of COVID-19, in a way that can secure health and safety for all.
Finally, we call upon the relevant authorities for a serious follow up to the recommendations of the civil society regarding providing support to the implementation of the second Iraqi National Action Plan to implement the UNSCR 1325 in Iraq through establishing a pool fund mechanism to ensure a tangible implementation for the plan and adopting a strong media vision that is capable of circulating information in the society, in addition to establishing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to improve the performance of the government and to come up with realistic indicators on the progress of the participation, protection and prevention of women and girls, improving their life conditions and empowering them economically, and highlighting the importance of building real partnerships with civil society organizations to support the implementation of the plan to achieve the desired goals, most importantly increasing the level of women’s participation by creating societies that support and advocate the active participation of women in building a safe and stable country that enjoys freedom, justice and peace.
To the makers of change and peace, congratulations on your day.
1325 Alliance (WPN)
