Iraq
Iraq
Women are crucial allies to the efforts to eliminate extremism in Iraq. The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has contributed to a political landscape in Iraq historically characterized by sectarianism, ineffective judicial systems, high levels of government corruption, and high rates of violence against women, including sexual and gender-based violence. ISIL continues to use sexual and gender-based violence and rape as weapons of war— and targets women, particularly Yazidi women and other non-Shiite minorities, for sexual slavery among fighters.
Iraq acceded to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) in 1986, launched the National Strategy on Combating Violence against Women in 2013, and launched its National Action Plan pursuant to Resolution 1325 in 2014. Iraq’s National Action Plan was the first launched in the Middle East. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs in Iraq has also developed a National Strategy for the Advancement of Iraqi Women, but due to the political climate it hasn’t been effectively implemented; similarly, laws banning forced and early marriages are rarely enforced.
Based on the work of NGOWG members and their partners, the NGOWG advocates for the Government of Iraq to clarify their shelter policies, in order to allow and support Iraqi NGOs in their efforts to operate shelters and provide much needed services to survivors of SGBV. Further, the NGOWG urges the Security Council to ensure that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) is regularly engaging with women’s organizations, and will continue to take concrete steps to support women’s participation in all peace and security processes.
Current and Past Recommendations to the UN Security Council (Monthly Action Points)
Iraq (January 2016)
In considering a report on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Council must urge accountability for serious human rights violations, particularly sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) against women and girls. SGBV against ethnic minorities is being used in a widespread and systematic manner by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ Da’esh) and may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. An estimated 1,500 women and children, mostly from the Yezidi minority, remain in captivity by ISIL. The Council should consider the following recommendations:
- Fully implement and fund Iraq’s National Action Plan (NAP) on SCR 1325 (2000) in consultation with civil society;
- Apply a gender lens to humanitarian assistance efforts, particularly in the provision of medical care, including trauma support, ongoing psychosocial counseling and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, as mandated by SCR 2122 (2013) which includes access to emergency contraception and safe abortion services;
- End impunity and ensure that all crimes are investigated, securing sensitive evidence, and perpetrators are brought to justice in line with international humanitarian and human rights law;
- Continue deployment of gender advisers and female personnel in UNAMI, and ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in the security and justice sectors of Iraq and in all efforts to counter and prevent violent extremism;
- Call on the Government of Iraq to implement policies to reduce the risk of statelessness, increased exposure to SGBV and discrimination for all displaced persons, particularly women. Immediately lift the policy prohibiting NGOs from providing shelter to displaced persons, and legally allow displaced women and girls access to three-year temporary Civil Status Identification Documents, without the presence of a male family member to verify their identity; and
- Support survivors of SGBV by establishing training programs and protocols for medical staff which are comprehensive and include training on addressing stigma.
In considering a report on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), the Council must urge accountability for serious human rights violations, particularly sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) against women and girls. SGBV against ethnic minorities is being used in a widespread and systematic manner by Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ Da’esh) and may amount to war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. An estimated 1,500 women and children, mostly from the Yezidi minority, remain in captivity by ISIL. The Council should consider the following recommendations:
- Fully implement and fund Iraq’s National Action Plan (NAP) on SCR 1325 (2000) in consultation with civil society;
- Apply a gender lens to humanitarian assistance efforts, particularly in the provision of medical care, including trauma support, ongoing psychosocial counseling and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services, as mandated by SCR 2122 (2013) which includes access to emergency contraception and safe abortion services;
- End impunity and ensure that all crimes are investigated, securing sensitive evidence, and perpetrators are brought to justice in line with international humanitarian and human rights law;
- Continue deployment of gender advisers and female personnel in UNAMI, and ensure women’s full and meaningful participation in the security and justice sectors of Iraq and in all efforts to counter and prevent violent extremism;
- Call on the Government of Iraq to implement policies to reduce the risk of statelessness, increased exposure to SGBV and discrimination for all displaced persons, particularly women. Immediately lift the policy prohibiting NGOs from providing shelter to displaced persons, and legally allow displaced women and girls access to three-year temporary Civil Status Identification Documents, without the presence of a male family member to verify their identity; and
- Support survivors of SGBV by establishing training programs and protocols for medical staff which are comprehensive and include training on addressing stigma.
Relevant Resources
