Over the past several years, we’ve made remarkable strides in empowering women in Iraq. From identifying groundbreaking successes that have sparked positive change in communities to reflecting on the critical role of women’s groups in connecting local initiatives with broader strategies, much has been achieved. However, much remains to be done in advancing the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda—a critical area where progress has been slow, particularly in the security sector.

As a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, I have always believed that empowering women in the security sector is especially difficult in Iraq, given the strong societal and institutional resistance. Conservative tendencies often push for the re-establishment of traditional gender roles, relegating women to the private sphere and keeping them away from public life. These social, economic, security, and religious pretexts often disguise themselves as a form of protection but, in reality, limit women’s opportunities. Simultaneously, some conservative groups argue that women and girls do not need protection from domestic violence—a deeply concerning issue.

Read more at: https://www.undp.org/iraq/blog/leadership-and-womens-empowerment-iraqs-security-sector