International Women’s Day celebrated in Iraq under the theme “Participation of Women as a Guarantee for Peace and Stability”

Among the speakers were Dr. Hamid al-Ghazi, Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers; Dr. Yossra Mohsen, Director-General of the Women Empowerment Directorate; Dr. Khazand Ahmed, Secretary-General of the High Council for Women Affairs in the Kurdistan Regional Government; Ms. Maysoon al-Saidi, Head of the Women, Family and Children parliamentary committee; and Ms. Hana Edwar and Dr. Nebras al-Mamouri representing civil society. Participation also included representatives of civil society organizations from different governorates, the international community and UN entities in Iraq.

Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator, Irena Vojáčková-Sollorano, delivered a speech on behalf of the United Nations in Iraq, outlining the efforts and activities undertaken by the various UN entities in support of women issues in Iraq.

The DSRSG/RC/HC for Iraq saluted the women in Iraq for their vital role in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, as frontline healthcare workers and on the homefront. She welcomed the Iraqi parliament’s adoption on 1 March of the Yazidi female survivors law and the government’s endorsement of the second National Action Plan on 1325 last December. Ms. Vojáčková-Sollorano pledged continued UN support to the women of Iraq and the government in implementing the commitments under the women, peace, and security agenda as well as issues that relate to the Sustainable Development Goal 5 on women and girls’ empowerment.

A full text of the speech of DSRSG/RC/HC