In Iraq, women continue to face numerous threats, primarily gender-based violence. This persistent issue is compounded by inadequate legislation or the failure to implement existing laws. A significant challenge remains the ongoing consideration of 'honor' as a mitigating factor in Iraqi legal sanctions for crimes involving violence against women, men, or children.
Violence against women is a truly global issue, transcending cultural, economic, and political lines. The United Nations Development Fund for Women reports that at least one in three women worldwide has suffered some form of violence, ranging from beatings to sexual crimes.
As an expression of our determination to combat these grim statistics both at home and abroad, the Aran Organization, in cooperation with UNFPA, is actively working to combat violence against women. We achieve this by holding seminars and open discussions in various institutions and offices.
Activity Spotlight: CEDAW Seminar & Open Discussion
Date: on December 15th, 2023
Location: Aran Organization Office, Takya Area
Theme: Summary of CEDAW with an open discussion on domestic violence
Type: Seminar
Objectives:
- Raise Social and Cultural Awareness: To inform women with secondary education about the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
- Empowerment through Knowledge: To raise awareness among women of their rights, enabling them to effectively advocate for these rights. Understanding the scope and extent of their rights is essential.
Participants:
- Team members responsible for the seminar from the Aran Organization.
- Women with secondary education.
Event Highlights:
At our office in the Takya area, members of the organization and women with secondary education participated in a crucial seminar focused on the CEDAW treaty and an open discussion about the domestic consequences of violence and ways to combat it.
This event was a key part of our participation in the '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence' campaign. A dedicated team of Aran Organization members, with guidance and advance cooperation from UNFPA, prepared a comprehensive summary of the CEDAW treaty and shared it with attendees.
During the seminar, a simplified explanation of the treaty, along with a brief summary of its subsidiary terms, was presented. This was followed by a vibrant open discussion on its importance and how to leverage its benefits. We were thrilled by the active participation from everyone present!
Key Takeaways & Results
The consensus at the end of the symposium was clear: the time has come to take decisive steps to end gender-based violence and recognize such violence as a criminal act.
Our seminar significantly contributed to:
- Accelerated progress towards women's equality with men, ensuring they are not discriminated against in all aspects of life.
At the close of the event, a number of valuable guidelines and tips were presented, followed by a heartfelt word of thanks to all our participants for their engagement and commitment.
Opinion on the Seminar:
We are proud to report that the activity successfully achieved its objectives. Participants greatly benefited from the seminar, increasing their awareness about the critical importance of creating a society free of discrimination against women.
