The Iraqi Women's Network held its first national conference under the theme "Rights, Equality, and Empowerment of Women and Girls in Iraq" on October 17 and 18 at the Coral Palace Hotel in Baghdad.
The Hammurabi Human Rights Organization was elected for the second term, along with six other organizations, to the Iraqi Women's Network's administrative board. Ms. Pascale Esho (Warda) was among the seven elected members. She actively participated in discussions on various topics, in addition to presenting shields of honor and appreciation, along with a bouquet of flowers, to a number of women activists.
Honoring of Lamaa Talabani
For those who have been involved in the women's movement since 2003, including Professor Dr. Fawzia Al-Attiyah, Professor Lamiaa Talabani, and lawyer Azhar Al-Shaarbaf, among many others. The Hammurabi Human Rights Organization is one of the network's founders, and its activities contribute to its ongoing and effective work.
Attorney Azhar Al-Shaarbaf
The head of the Hammurabi Organization also participated in the two-day conference, where a number of fundamental issues were discussed, including the repercussions of amending Personal Status Law No. 1 of 2025, the trajectory of the women's movement, combating hate speech and violence against women, women's participation in elections, the third shadow report on the CEDAW Convention, the network's financial and performance report, the amendment of the bylaws, and the election of the new administrative body.
A significant number of the network's member organizations participated in the conference, united by goals related to the reality of Iraqi women, which requires greater effort and volunteer work in organizing fieldwork to empower women and girls and facilitate access to justice. This is aimed at eliminating the institutionalized injustice against women, which only produces more hatred and the stigmatization of women through various means and methods.
Among the objectives derived from the discussions of the topics raised at the conference, which were highlighted to strengthen the women's movement, were five points:
- Family protection based on respect, affection, and partnership among all its members.
- Protecting women's rights and their role in building security, peace, and development.
- Empowering and strengthening women's leadership in decision-making positions in various fields.
- Feminist and community solidarity to reduce hatred, discrimination, marginalization, and violence against women and girls.
- Evaluating the work of the Iraqi Women's Network and updating its strategies and organizational structure.
Professor Dr. Nahla Al-Nadawi also issued and presented a guide entitled "The Ten-Step Guide" toward balanced participation of women and men in decision-making in political parties.
The video presentation also highlighted the 188 Alliance, and topics related to women in the current situation in Gaza and other women's conditions in Iraq. A draft shadow report on the international Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) was also presented, highlighting the decline and hatred directed against Iraqi women. He also presented an introduction to the shadow report on minority women, which is currently being prepared to be submitted to the CEDAW Committee, with the aim of drawing international attention to the suffering of women in Iraqi minorities who have been subjected to all kinds of assault and captivity, and a significant number of whom are still missing, such as Yazidi women and a number of Christian women as well. The conference concluded after reviewing and voting on the internal regulations and holding free and democratic elections with the aim of strengthening the next phase and providing it with more achievements and concerted efforts of women from all regions of Iraq.