Women subjected to violence in so many ways - special rapporteur on Violence against Women - says every day lives also inludes violence, sometimes this is overlooked. Tend to see the gross abuses and violations.
Iraq - subjected to violations - situation, has become more difficult, because of internal conflicts. Break down of social structures. Happens in all areas where war - impacts women and children. In case of Iraq diring civl regime, civil society was repressed. Women's organizations didn't get together. Now they are trying - it takes time. For this blossoming society - need contact with global women's movement. Need contact with women in other parts of the world. When women are isolated, even more vulnerable to violence. Aim of session - have voices of women from Iraq heard. Moderator worked to get women from Iraq heard.
Woman's - conflict in Iraq has left serious impact on women - Violence against women spread in families, physical and sexual and honour crimes. Women who are subject to abuse in families, also political attacks - Iraqi society tends to deny violence against women. Established organization in 2004. worked in different districts - Established relations with other women NGOs in Iraq.Work on Violence against women - We have indicators as to the extent of the phenomena. Eg. honour crimes - considered very serious, discrimination in employment, rep0orductive rights violated. Many of poor areas, and thru cases in the centre, we have noticed the main figures in the family - father, brother, make decision about marriage - even young girls. Maternal mortality is high. Increase in divorce for young women. Among cases, young women and girls sexually abused in the family. Very small living quarters. Bagdad - high drop out for girls - parents fear sending girls to schooling, because of security and poverty. Hi unemployment especially for women. Preference for male employees. Women in Iraq have achieved a bit. Colleague will speak about it. Still women in Iraq suffer especially when it comes to Violence Against Women.
2003 - started women's NGOs. Before no NGOs in Iraq before. But before women were in many fields of work. Many women well educated. Nature of history - history of wars and violence. Women history of participating in government - in politics. Wasn't a gift of government. Strong Iraqi women. Built their country. Take responsibility for economic - protect society and family. Women more tough to face all these problems. Because of dealing with the difficulties, makes us strong. We have to talk about our problems. For the new generations.
Numbers not only way to give information - need energy from other - give Iraqi women more strength. Solidarity with Iraqi women. It means a lot to us not to feel alone. Someone from Pakistan, Brazil thinking of us - give us more energy to keep working. Solidarity is most important thing we need. Sharing information important. Work in Iraq - where is strategy, statistics, Don't have capacity to give data. Should always be busy with data? or trying to help women - have to keep energy to help women in your country. They will help you, get the datga day to day. one of the challenges we face. We are a rich cou7ntry, have resources. Many families headed by women - because they are widows. Working to rebuild society, have women in government - quota to have women not our goal. Increases to participatgion in parliament and government not our goal.
History of violence in Iraqi women. But women still working to protect their families.
Shelter - not accepted, by society, need to raise awareness in society, and need to protect women.
Reflections - Norwegian Church NGO - challenges we face working with NGO from Iraq. One of major challenges is management - have office in Aman - hindrances with meeting - have to get visas - if in another country - Think about process, may get stuck - kept at the border for 2 or 3 hours, just because Iraqi. You as the organziation - are you safe, did you get out? All the risks that women take when travelling. Think women travelling from the south, flights not dependable. Then flight to the other country. Need much support - restricted by the family. We have partners in south - when they say can't travel, know travel restricgted by family. Donor community - in order to contribute to build, tend to overlook the reality inside - program oriented. Not sensitive to the women. Need coordination - As donors, we have our agenda, and it has to be compatible with their agenda. Listen to their priorities and needs. Should not be so demanding. Ask for status reports - we have to understand they are emerging organizations. these organizations also understaffed. In Iraq very competive market - support them strucutallly. Gettining them into dialogue with their government. Clear gap, and lack of trust. Being westernized - overlapping roles- lack of sharing information. Need some help in analyzing situation. Appreciating how difficult it is for NGOs coming together.
Someone from Al Hakim there - role of women in reconciliation in Iraq, and fighting corruption, queston - someone spoke about importance of statistics. In 1940's women had national machinery in Iraq - Role of women in reconstruction and facing corruption, and 1325. According to constitution, women has right to be 25% in parliament. only in parliament - women want to be in local councils. Women absent from dialogue in reconciliation - doesn't make sense to 78 or 79 in parilaiment and can't participate in dialogue. We should take place in this. They refused to start meeting, when a woman tried to participate. Deal with men,not women. 2008 very bad with corruption. women in local councils - no corruption- Some of members involved in militia, but no women ae involved. No action plan for 1325, but are working on it. Worked with Africa, and got good ideas. Are working on it - and put one together, and embarrass country.
Want to raise awareness amoung women of the issue - Most women NGOs don't know about 1325 - young emerging NGOs, don't have knowledge about international treaties or conventions. So raising awareness of 1325 among society.
Program, strengthening organizing in Iraq, and especially organizations dealing with violence against women. Worked initially in the south. People more vulnerable there - also isolated - importance to connect women from south with other women in the north - providing safe places forf women to meet. Norway NGO has consulted with 5 countries - including with Iraq.
Woman from Sweden spoke out about need for statistics, also problem for visas - Nigerian - making flyers, also sessions at markets. Getting the word out to women. Armenians - in Iraq - protection for Armenian and minority women? Traveling with permission of male member of family. When it comes to travel, have to have male permission. Getting passport, under 40, have to have male member to get passport. By law, not forbidden to travel, family norms - obstacle. In that connection do cooperate with media to hghlight these issues. Widows - have a fund for care taking widows. Not enough. Women NGOs who work with widows. Numbers have increased. Ministery of NGOs. Christians were attached and killed. Many churches burned. Minority of Armenians, and Christians not protected. Killing on ethnic basis. Christian women obligated to wear hijab.
Iraqi constituent, women's participation not below 25%. Face dilemma of women following traditional role. Women NGOs supporting women representatives. Media, NGOs don't have training to work and use media, In 2006 received threat of death. We're alone, no body had mechanism to protect us. Iraqi laws, and constitution, put it in a nice way - by laws, and articles. women have full right to travel - but to get passport - permission from male member of family.
I mush agree with this!
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