Endurance

through

conflict

Suzan Aref 

Photo: UN Photo/Rick Bajornas

Women and armed conflict was one of the Beijing Platform for Action’s 12 areas of concern, so what impact has Beijing and following international frameworks had for women who find themselves affected by war? Suzan Aref is the founder and CEO of the Women Empowerment Organization, based in Erbil, Iraq. She has served as coordinator of the Cross-Sector Taskforce for the Iraqi NAP for UNSCR 1325. She explores how women in Iraq have tried to make international agreements reality.

The Beijing Conference had a profound impact on women’s rights and activism globally, including in Iraq. The conference produced the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which laid out a comprehensive agenda for achieving gender equality and continues to influence feminist movements worldwide.

Impact on National and Local Women’s Activism in Iraq

Policy and Legal

The Beijing Platform for Action was instrumental in shaping Iraq’s commitment to international gender equality frameworks. One notable example is the implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Although Iraq ratified CEDAW in 1986, the Beijing Conference reinforced the call for its full and effective implementation. This led to the development of Iraq’s national strategy to combat violence against women, as well as proposals for a domestic violence law. While the law was passed in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, advocacy efforts to pass similar legislation in the national parliament have unfortunately faced persistent challenges, with little progress after seven years of continuous advocacy.

Iraqi women’s rights activists have also campaigned for reforms in critical areas such as women’s political participation, domestic violence legislation, and legal rights. Their advocacy contributed to the inclusion of a women’s quota in the Iraqi Constitution (2005), which mandates that women hold at least 25% of the seats in the Iraqi Parliament and 30% in the Kurdistan Parliament, thereby strengthening women’s representation and involvement in political decision-making.

Rise in Women’s Civil Society Organizations (CSOs)

After 2003, Iraq experienced a significant rise in women-led NGOs advocating for women rights and  equality, influenced by global feminist movements, including those shaped by the Beijing Platform for Action. This movement led to the establishment of key women’s networks, such as the Iraqi Women Network and Women for Peace Network, both of which have been instrumental in promoting women’s empowerment and equality in alignment with the Beijing agenda.

These organizations played a crucial role in supporting the development of national strategies that align with the Beijing Platform. Notable achievements include:

  • The Strategy to Combat Violence Against Women, which contributed to the implementation of both Beijing commitments and CEDAW.

  • The Strategy for Women’s Advancement, aimed at enhancing women’s participation in all sectors.

  • The Sustainable Development Plan, with a strong focus on Goal 5 of the Beijing Declaration, emphasizing gender equality and women’s rights.

  • The Iraqi NAP for the implementation of the UNSCR 1325 .

  • Local advocacy groups have actively campaigned against honor killings, domestic violence, child marriage, and the Al-Jafari laws, despite the challenges posed by weak legal enforcement.

Through persistent advocacy and policy engagement, these organizations have played a crucial role in driving both legislative reforms and societal change, working to strengthen protections for women’s rights in Iraq.

The role of women’s organizations in conflict and post-conflict Iraq

Women’s organizations have been crucial in both conflict and post-conflict Iraq, tirelessly advocating for women’s rights, amplifying their voices in policymaking, and delivering critical services. Despite the persistent challenges of instability, violence, and social resistance, these organizations have bridged the gap between grassroots activism and national policies, ensuring that women’s needs are consistently addressed at all levels.

In the face of war and instability, women’s organizations in Iraq played an essential role in providing humanitarian aid, pursuing legal advocacy, and engaging in policy development. Their work ensured that women’s rights remained a central focus even amid the chaos of conflict. By linking grassroots activism with national policy, they paved the way for women’s active participation in governance, peacebuilding, and social reconstruction.

The endorsement of Iraq’s National Action Plan (NAP) 1325 during a time of war and conflict is a testament to the priority placed on the women’s agenda, with the unwavering support and advocacy of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs). However, continued advocacy, stronger legal frameworks, and international support are crucial to maintaining and advancing this progress in the long term.

Humanitarian Support and Crisis Response

During and after conflicts, women’s organizations have provided critical relief and essential services.

This work has included policy and advocacy initiatives. Notably, supporting the development of the Iraqi National Action Plan (NAP), endorsed in 2014, and advocating for an emergency action plan in 2015 to address the needs of women and girls affected by the ISIS conflict. Women’s groups led continuous advocacy efforts that contributed to the endorsement of the Survivors Law (Yazidi Law) in 2023, ensuring justice and support for survivors of ISIS atrocities.

Iraqi women’s groups have also provided direct support and services. They established shelters and emergency aid programs for women displaced by war, particularly after 2003 and during the ISIS occupation (2014-2017). Their work has also provided comprehensive support for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), including legal aid, psychological counseling, and access to safe houses. Implementing livelihood programs, such as vocational training and microfinance initiatives, to help women achieve economic independence and rebuild their lives in post-war recovery.

Through these efforts, women’s organizations in Iraq have significantly contributed to both humanitarian response and long-term gender justice, ensuring that women’s rights remain a key priority in national recovery and policy development.

Advocacy for Legal Reforms and Women’s Rights

Women’s organizations worked persistently to ensure women’s rights were recognized in post-conflict Iraq, with numerous successes.

In relation to constitutional and legal reforms, this activism called for a 25% quota for women in parliament, which was secured in the 2005 Iraqi Constitution. Women’s groups have rallied in opposition to discriminatory laws, such as Article 41 of the Constitution, which could weaken women’s legal rights under personal status laws and the sectarian Jafari law in 2003 and 2014.

This advocacy has also targeted action on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), pushing for domestic violence laws, including the Anti-Domestic Violence Bill, which has faced delays in passing. Activists have also campaigned on issues like so-called honor killings, child marriage, and the “marital rape loophole” in Iraqi laws.

Bridging Grassroots Movements with National Policies

Women’s organizations have served as a link between local communities and decision-makers, ensuring women’s concerns were reflected in national and international policies.

Their work has sought engagement with International Bodies, collaborating with the international community, and international feminist networks to advocate for women’s rights at the global level. It has also seen participation in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and influencing Iraq’s National Action Plan (NAP) to integrate women into peacebuilding and security processes.

Activists have worked through local advocacy and mobilization, organizing awareness campaigns to educate women about their rights and encourage political participation. Activists have trained women to become community leaders and mediators in peacebuilding initiatives.

Backlash against the women’s agenda

The backlash against the women’s agenda is not new—it is a reactionary force that arises whenever there is progress toward gender equality and women’s rights. This resistance manifests in various forms, from policy rollbacks and increased gender-based violence to online harassment and political attacks against feminist leaders. Understanding and addressing this backlash is crucial for sustaining the momentum of the women’s movement and ensuring that progress is not reversed.

Understanding the Backlash Against the Women’s Agenda

Political and Legal BacklashImplementation and enforcement of discriminatory laws targeting women and girls. This includes amendments to personal status laws, the failure to pass legislation criminalizing domestic violence, and the prohibition of terminology related to gender equality. Additionally, terms such as “empowerment,” “feminism,” and “equality” have been restricted or banned.

Misuse and Politicization of the Quota System

  • The quota system has been exploited to serve the interests of political parties rather than to advance women’s perspectives and rights.

Absence of Inclusive Equality Policies

  • Lack of comprehensive policies that foster and ensure meaningful participation of women in leadership roles.

Restricted Space for Feminist Movements and Human Rights Defenders

  • Ongoing campaigns against Women’s Rights Organizations (WLOs) and activists aim to undermine their role in feminist advocacy and human rights defense, restricting their ability to champion women’s rights effectively.

The backlash against the women’s agenda is a powerful but not insurmountable challenge. By strategizing effectively—through advocacy, coalition-building, and public engagement—the women’s movement can sustain its gains, resist regressive forces, and continue advancing gender justice. Solidarity is key: when movements stand together, they are stronger in the face of opposition.

Global solidarity and the women’s movement in Iraq

Global solidarity has been a pillar of strength for many women’s movements in the region. Through international alliances—fostered by digital platforms and global conferences—activists have been able to exchange best practices, coordinate advocacy efforts, and amplify their voices. This solidarity has been particularly vital in providing both moral and financial support when local activists face political repression or threats to their safety.

One notable example of this collective support is our membership in the Karama network. During the challenges faced in efforts to amend the personal status law, Karama played a crucial role in amplifying the voices of those advocating for women’s rights in Iraq. By publishing an article highlighting the significant risks posed by these legal changes, the network helped draw international attention to the threats facing women and girls, demonstrating the power of global solidarity in protecting and advancing gender justice.

How do women’s rights activists working today relate to the influence of Beijing?

Women’s rights activists continue to engage with the Beijing Platform for Action as a historic milestone and a powerful advocacy tool. However, they also recognize the need to modernize and expand its vision to address emerging challenges. While the Beijing Platform remains a foundational influence, today’s feminists are working to adapt its principles to an evolving, intersectional world.

Activists strategically utilize the Beijing Platform for Action to hold governments and international organizations accountable for their commitments to women’s rights, ensuring that these pledges translate into concrete actions.

As a globally recognized framework, the Beijing Platform provides Women-Led Organizations (WLOs) with a strong advocacy tool to push for the integration of its vision into national strategies and policies. Through their advocacy efforts, WLOs and the Women’s Rights Network (WRN) have played a crucial role in advancing the endorsement and implementation of strategies linked to Beijing, CEDAW, UNSCR 1325, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ensuring alignment with national development plans.

Beijing’s Role in Advancing Youth-Led Feminist Movements

The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) remains a cornerstone for gender equality and serves as a foundational and unique reference document for feminist advocacy. Its principles have provided a comprehensive framework that continues to empower and mobilize younger generations, fostering intergenerational collaboration within feminist movements.

Beijing’s impact on youth-led feminist activism is not static; rather, it serves as a historical foundation that is continuously reinterpreted and expanded by emerging generations of feminists. By embracing institutional recognition, grassroots mobilization, and digital activism, young feminists are both building on Beijing’s legacy and reshaping it to address contemporary gender justice struggles.

Recognizing the importance of youth inclusion, platforms such as Beijing+25 (2020) explicitly prioritized youth voices, ensuring that younger activists were not just participants but key contributors in global discussions on gender equality. This shift has strengthened youth leadership in advocacy, policy influence, and movement-building, reinforcing Beijing’s relevance for new and emerging feminist movements worldwide.

“Restrictions on civil society left little room for the immediate implementation of Beijing’s principles. But at the grassroots level, Sudanese women found ways to turn the Platform for Action into reality.”
“Women attended meetings, took on assignments, and fought to have their voices heard.”