Strengthening Women's Position in Leadership and Decision-Making

As part of efforts to advance the status and participation of women, the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy implemented a strategic project over the past three months entitled “Strengthening Women's Position in Leadership and Decision-Making.”
The project was implemented in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah and included a series of training courses addressing key topics, including:
• Advocacy for women's issues
• Developing women's capacities in political discourse
• Deepening understanding of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on women, peace and security
A group of capable and courageous women participated in these training courses and went on to implement a number of innovative initiatives inspired by their own ideas and proposals. Among the most notable initiatives were:
• Using art, including theatre and visual arts, as a tool for amplifying women's voices
• Organizing a specialized seminar on ways and approaches to combating violence against women
• Analyzing the impact of media on the image and position of women in society
• Conducting open discussions and surveys on early marriage and its devastating consequences
• Organizing a panel discussion and seminar on protection from online harassment in the digital world
• Advocating for amendments to the Personal Status Law to prevent child marriage at the age of nine
On International Women's Day, 8 March, the Organization held an important conference with the participation of a number of relevant stakeholders. The conference served as a platform for developing a set of practical recommendations proposed by women to address issues requiring new policies and plans.
These efforts are part of the “Women and Peace” project, implemented in partnership with Women for Women International (WFWI) and with financial support from the United Kingdom International Support Fund (UKISF).