In June, members of the elbarlament team went on a one-week field visit to Iraq to meet with local organisations and key stakeholders. These preparatory meetings provided a valuable opportunity to introduce the civic education project and ensure stakeholder engagement. The meetings were productive, enabling the project team to share the organisation’s vision, discuss potential challenges, and gather valuable feedback.

Moreover, the visit presented an important occasion to meet with the project’s Iraqi staff and foster stronger team dynamics through in-person team-building activities.

Read more on the project here.

elbarlament is in the process of finalizing an exciting study and four thematic research papers on women and peacebuilding in Iraq. The aim of this work is to complement existing knowledge gaps in the area of women and peacebuilding. The study and the research papers will be published on the Women Talking Peace digital platform, which will be launched at the beginning of September 2021. 

To that end, we have produced a series of short interview videos giving an overview of the research questions, the methodology, and the expected outcomes of each paper.

Here’s a first impression:

Study: Women talking peace in Iraq: opportunities, challenges and prospects for a better future, Dr. Zeynep N. Kaya and Dr. Ilham Makki (watch video)

Research Paper: Legislative Framework to Women’s Participation in Political and Peacebuilding Processes, Rejna Alaaldin (watch video)

The purpose of this research paper is to identify the gender limitations and opportunities for political inclusion and participation in the legal framework of Iraq.  By undertaking a gender analysis of Iraqi law and identifying the gender gaps within the legal framework, it contributes to the progress and promotion of female political inclusion and participation through a set of key recommendations.

Research Paper: Engaging Women in Peacebuilding Processes in Iraq: Best Practices and Lessons Learned ,Dr. Janan Aljabiri (watch video)

The aim of the paper is to identify best practices and lessons learned of successful interventions regarding the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes, whether at community or national level, through formal or informal channels. It looks to identify scalable and transferable initiatives that could be used in other parts of the country. It also aims to introduce women who could be considered as ‘female role models’ in peacebuilding and finally looking at ways in which their work could be better supported. 

Research paper: Sustainable Peacebuilding through Economic Empowerment

This research paper explores the links between economic empowerment and the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes. It focuses on the ways through which the economic empowerment of women enhances women’s participation in peacebuilding processes. Additionally, the paper outlines challenges and best practices in pursuing peacebuilding through economic empowerment.

Research Paper: Online Sexist Hate Speech and Women’s Participation in Public and Political Life in Iraq, Dr. Aida Kaisy

The paper explores the interplay and reciprocal influences between online sexist/misogynist speech and “offline” women’s participation in public and political life in Iraq.

Visit our YouTube channel to see more.

Within the framework of the project “Clean Tigris- Dialogue Programme for Sustainable Peace in Mesopotamia” elbarlament published a book on sustainable solutions for issues such as climate change, water pollution and conflict due to water scarcity in the Land Between Two Rivers. 

In the third chapter of the book, an international research team from ENRoot GmbH and TH Köln (University of Applied Sciences) discuss how experiences and knowledge from the Rhine basin could be a source of inspiration for tailor-made solutions in the case of the Euphrates and Tigris basin. Dr Sudeh Dehnavi, Dr Muhammad Khalifa, Zryab Babker and Prof Dr Lars Ribbe write, among other things, on the importance of setting up an Integrated Water Resources Management in the region as well as the requirements to reach a clean Euphrates and Tigris. 

Download ‘Streaming Tears of the Middle East: How to Clean the Euphrates and Tigris Basins’ here

The project is supported by the ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) programme “zivik”, with funds from the German Federal Foreign Office.

 Our project manager Alisha Molter will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the project.

Want to know more about Clean Tigris? Visit our website: www.cleantigris.com or follow us on Instagram, Youtube and Facebook

Twenty years after the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women Peace and Security was adopted, women in Iraq and the MENA region continue to struggle with the consequences of violence, war and conflict. Peace and reconciliation remain unfulfilled dreams for most of them. This is despite the fact that numerous studies have proven that peace initiatives and conflict solutions that are actively shaped by women tend to be more successful.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of UNSCR 1325, elbarlament facilitated a high level hybrid conference on the 11th and 12th of December 2020. The conference took place within the framework of the project “Women Talking Peace” which is funded by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany and implemented by elbarlament e.V. in Iraq. The conference aimed to bring together government officials, experts, women’s organisations, researchers, activists, religious and tribal leaders and civil society representatives of Iraq to reflect on the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The conference aimed at showcasing women’s positive role in overcoming cultural and social divisions. 

At the start of the conference, Dr. Ali Youssef Al-Shukri, Senior Advisor to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iraq; Dr. Ole Diehl, The Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany in Iraq; Ms. Susan Leichtweiss, Programme Manager at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) in Iraq and Dr. Birgit Laubach, Chairwomen of the Executive Board, elbarlament e.V. shared their opening words and warmly welcomed the participants and the audience.

The first conference day hosted two panel discussions. In the first discussion on the  “Challenges, Obstacles and Opportunities for Implementing UNSCR 1325 in Iraq”, the three panelists from Iraqi civil society and state institutions debated about achievements in terms of UNSCR 1325 in Iraq over the past 20 years and which opportunities exist for the Iraqi society. In the second panel, “Peace and Participation –  Views from across MENA”, five women engaged in civil society and state level projects about peacebuilding and women empowerment exchanged their experiences regarding the women, peace and security agenda in their respective countries. Furthermore, the five panelists discussed opportunities for cooperation and exchange of information with regard to UNSCR 1325 on a regional level. 

During the second day, three discussion rounds took place. In the first panel “The Role of Women in Peacebuilding in Iraq”, two Iraqi experts on women, peace and security from the parliament and civil society discussed the main obstacles to the inclusion of women in peacebuilding processes in Iraq including the legal framework. The panel focused on how peacebuilding efforts can be more inclusive for women from different sects, minorities, geographical areas and women stemming from different socio-economic backgrounds as well as IDPs. 

In the second panel discussion of day two “Promotion of Women’s Rights by Religious Leaders”, five panelists involved in religious affairs and/or peacebuilding and female empowerment debated on how religious leaders can contribute to overcome socio-cultural obstacles that women face and how religious institutions can psychologically better support women (ie. IDPs, victims of violence). The panel discussed whether clerics have influence on the drafting of certain laws as well as questions on their role in steering communication with conservative groups towards the importance of women’s rights.

Finally, in the last panel, “Young Women Making Peace”, five young politically active women from different cities in Iraq talked about their visions and hopes for a peaceful future in Iraq – What would need to happen for things to improve? The panelists shared their experience during public protests in Iraq since 2019. They debated about a new culture of dealing with each other  and opportunities to mainstream this new culture and anchor it within society.

A video documenting the conference can be viewed here.

As part of the sixth ‘Long Night of Ideas’ under the Motto ‘Menschen Bewegen 2021’ which is organised by the German Federal Foreign Office, elbarlament will show a virtual presentation on the activities we held as part of our writing workshops and ToT programme in Iraq. elbarlament, with the generous funding from the Federal Foreign Office, conducted writing workshops for over 200 women from all regions of Iraq from 2016-2018.  In 2019, 13 Iraqi women writers were trained as trainers of writing workshops in a Training of Trainers programme (within the framework of the project “Cultural Initiatives for Civil Society in Iraq 2019” funded by the Federal Foreign Office). 

The Long Night of Ideas, which will be held on the 7th June will address the major issues of foreign cultural and educational policy. The focus will be on the thematic priorities ‘Divers. Digital. Sustainable’ and the big question ‘How soon is tomorrow’? During the Long Night of Ideas, elbarlament’s work will be presented digitally by means of a video and an exhibition presentation. In the presentation, visitors can take a closer look at the portraits and their corresponding poems, thereby getting an impression of the talent of Iraqi women writers, as well as of their willpower and strength to pursue what gives them hope and joy in life – writing – against all odds.

Learn more about the exhibition and our work in this interview, where elbarlament’s Managing Director, Dr Birgit Laubach explains what culture has to do with reconciliation and why writing opens a window to the world.

The virtual event will begin at 7.30 PM CET on 7th June 2021 on the following website: https://menschenbewegen2021.de/

In late May, we were finally able to travel to Iraq for meetings with partners and stakeholders as well as in-person activities for our Clean Tigris and Women Talking Peace projects.

Promoting women’s political participation

On 21 May 2021, elbarlament staff travelled to Baghdad to attend meetings with several high ranking officials to discuss the possibility of projects that promote women’s participation in politics and society, the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, as well as the second Iraqi National Action Plan (INAP2) to UNSCR 1325 that was launched recently. In addition, the team met with key Iraqi stakeholders and partner organisations in the environmental field. 

The following day, the team had a meeting with Parliament Member and Head of the Women’s Affairs Committee in Parliament, Dr. Intisar Aljibouri. The issues discussed included the Committee’s role in monitoring the implementation of the INAP2 activities, their constant work in trying to gain MP support for the Domestic Violence Bill and women’s roles and chances in the upcoming elections. On the same day, the team had a meeting with Dr. Yusra Al-Alaq (General Manager of the Iraqi Women Empowerment Department). The focus of the meeting was the INAP2 as well as a separate action plan consisting of 60 activities concerning women’s political participation derived from INAP2 that the department aims at implementing within the next months and especially before the upcoming elections. 

On 23 May, elbarlament along with representatives from the German Embassy and GIZ, met with the Minister of Defence Lieutenant General Jum’a Enad Aljibouri. A very successful meeting resulted in the Minister’s approval for a capacity building project on UNSCR1325. In the following days, additional meetings with the German Embassy, the EU delegation to Iraq and the NATO were conducted within to discuss projects related to peacebuilding, gender and environment. With regard to the latter topic, our team met with an Iraqi UNEP representative on water issues, Samirah Abed Alshabeeb (Head of the Center for Restoration of Iraqi Marshes and Wetlands) and Dr. Sadeq Jawad (Advisor to the Prime Minister on Agriculture and Water Research) to discuss the relationship between water and climate change and peacebuilding and democracy support projects.

Workshop on social cohesion for tribal/religious leaders and women in Erbil

On 26 and 27 May 2021 the Women Talking Peace project conducted two workshops on social cohesion and non-violent communication within the framework of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda for two separated groups of a) tribal/religious leaders and b) a group of women. During the training sessions, the topics of conflict resolution, mediation, social cohesion, citizenship, armed conflict and its effect on both men and women in society, UNSCR 1325, the INAP2 as well as participants’ roles as tribal, religious or women leaders with regard to the implementation of the INAP2 were discussed. The participants came from different religious backgrounds, sects and regions in Iraq, including both urban and rural areas. Boths groups were lively, well versed and were highly cooperative during the two days in discussions and group activities that focussed on the support of women’s participation, gender and conflict resolution. Both groups will be brought together once more in a combined male/female workshop in the upcoming months to further discuss their roles in the implementation of the second INAP and to contribute to peaceful coexistence within their communities.