A Mapping of Actors Gender Disgrated Data and Information Programs and Projects and Rural Development Projects in Iraq

Introduction

This technical report seeks to highlight the gender data available and the ongoing programs of different stakeholders committed to the advancement of the conditions of women living in rural contexts. The report includes a thorough review of literature to shed light on the data available, gaps in data, and the hindrances behind lack of data. The report highlights major activities delivered by ministries and institutions of the Iraqi government, and other stakeholders’ interventions, such as NGOs, International Organizations and agencies. Furthermore, the report will seek to analyze the information gathered in the attempt to transfer those information in an analysis of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats concerning the increased availability of sex disaggregated data and gender in rural contexts. The report concludes with a set of priorities for the production of gender-disaggregated data in agricultural and rural development statistics.

Background

Iraq is an agricultural country. Although a considerable portion of its agricultural lands are under irrigation, it still depends highly on rain fed agriculture for grain and sheep production. Rain fed agriculture is practiced in the northern parts where the mountains, foothills, and Jazeera desert are located. Land potentially suitable for agricultural production however is not more than 27 percent of the total area of the country. The rest includes deserts with extremely low rainfall and rocky/steep mountains which are the natural grazing grounds for the millions of head of sheep and goats in the country.

The total area which has been used for agricultural production is about 8 million hectares which is almost 67 percent of the cultivable area. However, due to certain limitations such as soil salinity, drought, shortage of irrigation water in summer, fallowing and the unstable political situation it is estimated that the average area actually cropped each year ranges from 3 to 4 million hectares. Livestock constitutes an integral part of farming systems. Traditionally farmers keep livestock to enhance farm incomes and satisfy their basic food requirements. Sheep, goats and cattle are the most important livestock, supplying meat, wool, milk, skins, and hair..¹

From 1990-2011, the GDP for the agricultural sector achieved a combined annual growth rate of 1.6%. This rate is relatively low if compared to the GDP growth rate at constant prices for the same period of 3.6%. In 2010, there was a 17.2% increase in the GDP at constant prices over 2009, reflecting real growth in the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP, which rose from 7.3% in 2009 to 8.1% in 2010 (despite the droughts in Iraq during 2008-2009) and 7.6% in 2011. This indicates relative success in the agricultural sector as a result of the relative improvement in infrastructure, technology and knowledge of cultivation and irrigation methods, as well as the results of the agricultural initiative.²

Understanding the role that gender plays in agricultural production is critical for designing agricultural policies to increase productivity and enhance economic growth and to reduce poverty³. A better understanding of the role of gender in the agricultural sector could greatly increase productivity, reduce poverty, and improve food security.

International Framework and Iraqi Political Will and Commitment

The most important agreement binding governments to promote women’s rights is the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) that was established in 1979. The Convention was ratified by Iraq in Aug 13, 1986. According

To the Combined fourth, fifth and sixth periodic reports of States parties Iraq in 11 January 2013 under article 18 of the CEDAW Convention, Rural women combine duties in the home as mothers and wives with work outside the home in farming. Women are productive workers and make up one third of all rural workers. In common with other sections of Iraqi society, the situation of women has worsened as a result of war, sanctions and crises and the ensuing political and sectarian violence, which was not confined to the cities but spread into the countryside. This has had a direct impact on the level of services, despite efforts of the Government health sector to continue providing health services in an orderly manner⁴

CEDAW’s Committee Concluding Observations on Iraq’s Periodic Report, March 2014

Another vital intergovernmental agreement is the Declaration and Platform for Action for improving the status of women approved at the UN’s Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995. The Beijing Platform for Action includes goals and steps to be taken in twelve critical areas of life to improve the position and influence of women and girls. All member countries of the UN are bound by the Platform for Action, including definitely Iraq. The Platform for Action stipulated the production and dissemination of gender disaggregated data and information for planning and evaluation.

In the guidance note for the preparation of national reviews Implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) (in the context of the twentieth anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action 2015), countries were requested to provide information and the processes that have been undertaken to collect data on the situation of particular groups of women such as rural women. The guidance paper encouraged countries to provide information on indicators used at the national and local level to monitor the situation of gender equality and empowerment of women.

FAO’s Policy on Gender Equality

FAO’s policy on Gender equality that was published in 2013 states that FAO will integrate gender issues into all facets of its work and that gender mainstreaming must become standard practice in all its normative work and all its regional, sub-regional and country-level programs and projects. This action requires that all of FAO’s information sharing and knowledge management activities, work on developing normative public goods, policies, country programs and projects, and technical interventions adopt a gender mainstreaming approach by incorporating gender analysis, using sex-disaggregated data and paying attention to gender-differentiated impacts⁵.

The Value of Gender (NDP, 2013-2017)

Sociopolitical Challenges for Women⁷

Legal, social, personal and economic challenges characterize Iraqi women’s participation in the economic sphere. Under the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, women enjoy equal rights to employment without discrimination, but certain discriminatory elements remain within Iraqi law, which delineates women’s economic choices. More problematic are the general assumptions within the Iraqi tax code, Personal Status Code and Penal Code about the roles of men and women. These assumptions reinforce women’s roles as mothers and homemakers and preclude their full exercise of choice and economic independence. Women’s economic independence is further complicated by the complex web of personal relationships that women develop with their parents, brothers, spouse, children and neighbors. In many ways, Iraqi women are taught that their options are limited or can be limited by an influential male in the community. From an early age, a family may remove a daughter from school for a number of reasons including the belief that she does not need an education to be a house wife or homemaker. As an adult, the neighbors' may harass and gossip about her because they disapprove of her work outside of the home. As a widow or divorcee, poverty and lack of job experience may force her to return to the home of her parents where she will again become the ward of the oldest or most responsible man in the household Female Heads of Household and various other groups of Iraqi women also lack access to financial resources and social benefits such as social security, pensions, and food distributed through the Iraqi government’s Public Distribution System. The breakdown of the social security network due to sanctions, conflict and the decline of the rule of law has impacted many women, but female-headed households the most as many of these lack a primary income earner.

Displaced Women and Women in Conflict

Years of protracted conflict have continued to produce dramatic changes to family structure with approximately 1,6 million widows5 in Iraq and even more female-headed households. The ongoing conflict with ISIL has increased the number of widows and female-headed households.

Violence against women is prevalent in all forms and occurs in peace-time, during conflict and after conflict. Already affected by years of economic sanctions and armed conflicts, Iraqis, particularly women and girls, have been negatively affected by the deteriorating security situation in recent months. The ongoing conflict with armed groups including the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has forced nearly 2.5 million people⁸ to flee their home since January 2014. In the recent wave of displacements, more than half of displaced population (51%) are female⁹.Violence and conflicts have impacted differently on men, women, girls and boys. In Iraq, women and girls have been subjected to gross human rights abuses such as abductions, killings, trafficking, torture, forced marriage, as well as exposed to risk of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (S/GBV). Following the seizure of Mosul in June 2014, ISIL established a pattern of sexual slavery, abduction and human trafficking

Procedures Taken to Improve Woman Situation in Iraq¹⁰

Iraq works too hard to eliminate gender discrimination and to prompt woman situation. There are many of legal texts included in Iraq legislations aim to gender equality coincide with human rights. Iraq signed the convention of anti-discrimination against women through the code No. 66 for 1986 in 28th June 1986. Iraq endeavored to commit to all items of the agreement although challenges including impact of violence on woman status in Iraq after 9th April 2003 especially terrorism. Procedures and policies aiming to protect woman from violence and all forms of discrimination have been taken.

Status of Rural Women in Iraq 2014¹¹

Iraq takes important steps and makes a great progress to enhance woman status and her position in society through ratify on the international treaty, issued many of laws and legislations to enhance and empower women in economic, political, cultural and social as well as transformation program and interesting in rural women as set forth in:

Rural women program: General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers has specified amount of money to carry out project on Iraqi rural women with the supervision of State Ministry for Women Affairs to study the problems faced by rural women and propose solutions to them.

Fund for rural women development: Granting financial loans for rural households help them to find a small project to earn their living.

Training and awareness of rural women: Held training courses concern rural women development, their problems and how to deal with it.

Main Problems Faced by Rural Women:

Poverty in Rural

Poverty and hunger are considered social and economic pests for Iraqi households in urban and rural, and to draw policies and put plans to progress and decrease poverty we must make search of poverty conditions, monitoring, show its reason and location. In rural percentage of poverty was (30.7%) and poverty gap was (7.6%) by IHSES for 2012

Education in Rural

Most of rural people do not educate their girls or make them leave school which is known as education leak, more than half of women never finished their education because their parents not allowed them to attend school as set forth in figure ( ) this need to make household be aware of women role in community. Result of I-WISH for 2011 showed that women aged (15-54) not complete their education (28.9%) and (24.4%) of women willing to complete their education and (30.4) of women willing to attend.

Results of IHSES 2012 shows that percentage of illiteracy aged (12 +) years of age was very high that correspond to (43%) while women with BA degree was decrease about (1%) of total women this was because of traditions and social norms in rural that (49%) of rural women aged (12 more) not complete their education because of social reasons.

Centers of Illiteracy

The absence of respect women culture because of traditions and hereditary norms in rural has a negative reflects on women channel that lead to unequally between man and women in rural and urban. Many actors have worked hard to help rural women to overcome their ignorance and illiteracy by data of executive org. for illiteracy in Iraq, this org. has opened (5699) centers about (2652) for women, (1842) for men and (1205) mixed centers. The Number of women who attend these centers in rural was (50719).

Preference Male to Female

In rural households there are habits preference girls to boys in most cases and this percentage different between girls and boys in favor of boys by (I-WISH) for 2011 as set forth in figure below.

Figure (1): percentage of rural women aged (15-54) who do not complete their education by programme type that desire to attend for 2011

Source: results of I-WISH for 2011

Figure (2): percentage of difference in raising girls and boys within household by norms of rural women aged (15-54) for 2011

Source: (I-WISH) for 2011

National and International Stakeholders Involved in Gender Activities in Iraq with Focus on Stakeholders Targeting Women Living in Rural Contexts

In Iraq there are many agencies, organizations and other stakeholders committed to the promotion of gender equality and working on their own gender mainstreaming initiatives:

Ministry of Planning (MoP)¹²

Established at the 1959, the objectives and strategic tasks of the departments of the ministry are:

Conducting research and studies and develop plans and scenarios that achieve the goal of economic and human development in Iraq, in cooperation with official and private.

Preparing and following up the implementation of strategies for annual and five-year comprehensive development plans.

Provide statistical data and information necessarily needed by state agencies and establishing a national database comprehensive.

Supervision and follow-up file of international cooperation in respect of grants and technical assistance.

Work on providing the requirements of the information society in Iraq and make the maximum use of the information revolution and the dissemination of culture and promote practices in government departments and the general community down to the goal of e-government.

Care and support of the Iraqi private sector and to study the reality of this sector and to overcome difficulties and obstacles faced.

Develop an outline and propose strategic projects that require huge capital and a longer period of time for implementation in cooperation with other state agencies.

Support development in rural areas of Iraq through the study of reality and its problems.

Ministry Annual Investment Programs

The projects number of the investment budget up to 12/31/2013 final (8971)with providing basic services to citizens water, sewage and sanitation projects as well as projects related to the health aspect, where the majority of them are for the rehabilitation and the establishment of schools and educational and university buildings in all governorates the number of the agricultural sector projects (250) by (2.79%) of the total number of investment projects of which (215) Project construction and rehabilitation and development of irrigation and agricultural projects, of the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources.

MOP Poverty Reduction Strategy¹³

The National Strategy for Poverty Reduction approved in 2009 aimed to reduce poverty rates at the national level from 23% to 16% during the 2010-2014 period. The strategy went into actual effect in 2011 through the implementation of the National Development Plan programs that covered many of the poor areas in all governorates, and coverage rates increased in 2012 by allocating around IQD 500 billion of that year’s investment budget, distributed to projects having priority within the poverty strategy. This centered on:

●● Supporting the small loan fund to assist the poor

●● Building low-cost housing compounds

●● Eliminating clay schools

●● Improving primary health care services

Out of the projects included in the investment budget, the following projects were found to be more relevant to youth:

Remove mud schools in Iraq through demolishing and rebuilding 409 traditional or prefabricated clay schools in the governorates.

Increase the numbers of mobile clinics for remote areas through purchasing three quality mobile clinics (equipped with an X-ray unit and binocular microscope to diagnose tuberculosis) and distributing them to the northern, central, and southern governorates.

Provide 21 types of lab equipment and devices for health centers in the governorates.

Support the Small Loan Fund for the Poor Project, which grants a small loan – totaling 5–10 million Iraqi dinars – according to specific controls and mechanisms to the following groups in the eight poorest governorates: the disabled, displaced returnees, widows, divorcees, female breadwinners, female ex-convicts, those affected by terrorist attacks, breadwinners of financially unstable families residing near landfills, and beggars.

Implement projects to build low-cost residential complexes for the poor and provide the relevant necessary infrastructure: schools, hospitals, paved roads, and wastewater networks in Muthanna, Qadisiya, Salahuddin, Diyala, Babil, and Wasit.

Build primary health care centers (establish 20 health care sites, each containing a caravan and a generator within a fenced piece of land and covering 200–1,000 people, to be distributed to the districts in Salahuddin Governorate).

Organize markets in poor neighborhoods (establish eight souks, each with 32 kiosks, in the districts of Salahuddin, and establish 100 kiosks in Qadisiya Governorate).

Take measures to provide infrastructure for the low-cost residential housing unit projects for the poor, including public utilities and connections to the main road.

The results of the analysis, which is based on the indicators of macroeconomic projections of the population estimates and the results of social and economic survey of the Family reached the poverty rate retreated at 2014 to what it was in 2007 ( 22.5 %) after it was expected to drop from 19% In 2012 to 15% in the sense that the government had lost all the efforts made by since 2007 until 2012  and expressed the hope  that the outcome of this analysis indicators for planners policy makers, especially poverty reduction strategy plan next support displaced persons, and reconstruction of the provinces from which they were displaced, these painful indicators calling on political leaders and the community to address this : crises of low oil prices and crimes of ISIS pain in the high rate of poverty in Iraq to (22, 5 %) during 2014¹⁴

Central Statistics Organization - CSO

The Central Statistics Organization (CSO) within the Ministry of planning (MoP) abides by Statistics Law No.21 of 1972. it’s the only authorized official body to generate statistics at the national level and considers the main source which is responsible of all the statistics processes. including relationships with other authorities such as ministries, non-ministerial agencies, the private sector and other entities. CSO formerly name was the Central Organization for Statistics and Information Technology (COSIT), its main Tasks:

Implementation of general population and housing censuses.

Implementation of statistical processes which are connected with the different fields and surveys in sample, as well as carrying out all processes and statistical procedures (agricultural and industry … etc).

Collect, unify, prepare, analysis and summarize the statistical processes results totally or partially.

Preparing and updating special database of election whenever needed.

Publish and print the statistical pamphlets and reports. And establish statistical training course, symposiums and conferences.

Participate in international cooperation in the statistical fields, and exchange the experiences with scientific, Arabic and International organizations which in statistical field.¹⁵

Gender Statistics Unit

The Gender Statistics Unit was established in Iraq in 2007. It was set up in, the central Office for Statistics and Information Technology in the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation. The Unit has been established in cooperation with the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

Vision: to make the Gender Statistics Unit meet the best standards of similar international gender statistics units, so as to make it the reliable national source for credible statistical information.

Mission: To provide gender specific data and indicators that satisfy the variety of ever changing needs of statistics users; to reach a high degree of quality in the production of such data and indicators and to observe their timely publication, in ways that would make them easily available, and conductive to the empowerment of women and their participation in the overall process of equitable and sustainable development

Women’s Issues

The interest in women’s issues and their participation and contribution to social development was based on the developmental fact stating that human resources make wealth. Thus, since women constitute half of the society both quantitatively and qualitatively, their development should be focused on empowerment as women are considered to be the basic foundation for the building of human capital. This requires the support of women’s leverage, organizing their skills and upgrading their status in addition to changing women’s self-perception to make them capable of taking decisions and increase their capacity to participate in the policy and decision-making process.

The Iraqi state is addressing gender issues based on its strong belief in the importance of gender equality in rights and responsibilities that is reflected in the Iraqi constitution that consecrates equality among male and female citizens in all rights and responsibilities and in all fields (political, economic and social). Moreover, Iraq has ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), the Convention on the Rights of the Children and other international conventions and instruments related to women. The establishment of the Ministry for Women’s Affairs in 2003 reflects the State’s commitment to these goals by founding national mechanisms and bodies that are conscious of women’s affairs and that operate at the highest levels to detect and monitor the recommendations of international and regional conferences, charters and conventions, to empower women in all fields and domains.

State Ministry of Women’s Affairs (SMoWA)

(SMoWA) was established in 2003 as a state ministry, which means that it is not a full ministry with an independent budget, as an implementer of government sponsored programs for women. SMoWA developed a National strategy for advancement of Iraqi women has confirmed on enhancing the location development chance (urban, rural) that ensured justice in geographically distribution of investment and financial resources with feature of rural women interesting. Council of Ministers resolution No. (164) for 2014 to ratify the national strategy for advancement of Iraqi women.¹⁶.

SMoWA Performs:

A national campaign for fighting violence against woman.

Establishing, conducting and following-up a gender awareness program in co-operation with state ministries, institutions and non-governmental organizations as well as supervising surveys related to woman to determine woman status in labor position and decision-making centers.

Create a division for observing woman rights in the Ministry of Human Rights works to report violence cases against woman and try to eliminate them.

Create a sectoral committee from the relevant ministries according to the decree No.80 for 2009 approved by the Secretary General of the Council of Ministers headed by the Ministry of Woman Affairs and shared by relevant ministries

The SMoWA strategy for promoting Iraqi women’s effective participation in the country’s reconstruction. The strategy identifies six sectors where women can contribute to the country’s growth and development: the education, healthcare, social services, legislative, economic and media sectors, it is also identifies critical areas for interventions in each sector and proposes particular initiatives for women’s advancement in each sector. For example, in the education sector, illiteracy is highlighted as a critical issue for women and girls. Strategies proposed to address this issue include using unemployed college and institute graduates to lead literacy training; strengthening the capacity of education professionals; developing strategies to keep girls in school and reduce the dropout rate, including computer and English language courses at rural primary schools; and providing proper training for unemployed girls to increase their employability.

In the health sector, the SMoWA has identified breast cancer as a major health issue for Iraqi women. The Ministry secured funding from the Prime Minister to implement an awareness-raising campaign that included brochures, television spots, and educational courses for medical personnel. The SMoWA would like to expand this campaign nationwide, undertake a neighborhood family doctor initiative and support the issuance of government-sponsored healthcare cards for women and orphans who can’t afford health care as ways to address the problem of breast cancer. In the social services sector, the SMoWA identified two domestic issues related to marriage and violence against women as critical areas requiring attention. The two marriage issues identified are unregistered marriages and divorce. The Ministry strategy includes the development of an awareness campaign on the disadvantages of unregistered marriages and a campaign to encourage reconciliation for seemingly irreconcilable differences between marital partners. The Ministry also identified the importance of additional research and documentation on violence against women, and the funding and establishment of more domestic violence centers to provide services for victims, including programs for the reintegration of survivors into society.

The SMoWA strategy identifies women’s lack of knowledge of their legal rights as a critical issue and proposes the following approaches to reverse this situation:

• A national campaign of legal literacy targeting Iraqi women and focusing on both national and international statutes;

• The modification of Iraqi laws that are inequitable for women;

• Initiating a process aimed at removing Iraq’s reservations to certain sections of the Convention to Eliminate All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW); and

• The development and passage of a social security law to address social security issues for Iraqi families, particularly women and children.

In the economic sector, the Ministry identifies the integration of women into the Iraqi economy as an important area for focus and intervention. In particular the Ministry strategy calls for greater participation of women in economic growth initiatives including women’s inclusion and investment in government projects, qualifying Iraqi women as project owners, increasing the provision of loans to female entrepreneurs, compensation for female victims of anti-terrorist operations, and the provision of unused government buildings for women’s training programs. The Ministry’s plan concludes with a media strategy aimed at promoting women’s roles in the media and the media’s coverage of women’s contributions to society. The strategy also calls for the development and publication of a quarterly magazine that highlights the latest women’s news and provides space for articles and research on contemporary Iraqi women’s issues and contributions to national development.

SMoWA Programs and Projects

Training Program for the Integration of Women's Needs:

Training program for the integration of women's needs and equivalent opportunities for them within ministries in collaboration with the hands of Mercy Association (NGO) for the purpose of developing its policies towards meeting the needs of women and provide opportunities for them equitably with men.

The program was initiated to set up a course on strategic planning hosted by MoLSA with the participation of employees of affiliated and units of gender issues in the ministries. Followed by sessions on the analysis of services projects in terms of responsiveness to the needs of women and men, and makes the required adjustments to be suitable for gender it. To achieve the integration of a gender perspective in the planning, implementation, monitoring the performance of government institutions.

State Ministry of Women’s Affairs Cancellation¹⁷

Unfortunately Iraq i council of ministries and according to Divan Order No. 312 dated August 25, 2015 decided to cancel four ministries and merging eight more in a new move of reforms in the country., he ordered the cancellation of deputy premier's posts. The cancelled ministries were Human Rights Ministry, Women's Ministry, Governorates' Ministry, and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry.

Agriculture

Background

About 1/8 of Iraq is arable land, mainly in the north and northeast. Approximately 1/10 is permanent pasture. The most significant crops include: barley, wheat, rice, vegetables, corn (maize), millet, sugarcane, sugar beets, oil seeds, fruit, fodder, tobacco and cotton. Iraq was formerly the largest producer of dates, and is approaching increased production after a decline during the Iran-Iraq War. Animal husbandry is widely practiced, particularly among the Kurds of the northeast, producing milk, meat, hides and wool.In 2010, there was a 17.2% increase in the GDP at constant prices over 2009, reflecting real growth in the contribution of the agricultural sector to the GDP, which rose from 7.3% in 2009 to 8.1% in 2010 (despite the droughts in Iraq during 2008-2009) and 7.6% in 2011. This indicates relative success in the agricultural sector as a result of the relative improvement in infrastructure, technology and knowledge of cultivation and irrigation methods, as well as the results of the agricultural initiative. The rural population makes up around 30% of Iraq’s population and agricultural workers are estimated to make up 20% of the workforce. The agricultural sector is considered the main generator of job opportunities in both the Iraqi private sector and in rural areas. Work in the agricultural sector is characterized by its seasonal nature and its dependence on the family work model, which is reflected in the work productivity of the countryside¹⁸

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA)

Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) Established in 1921, as governmental entity responsible for the agricultural sector in Iraq.

The number of staff OF Agriculture ministries by sex for the year 2012

Source: central statistics organization-info bank

The 2015-2025 MoA strategy identifies its mission as “to improve the performance of the agricultural sector contributing to the economic, social, environmental and sustainable rural development of Iraq". Agriculture seeks to fill the national food basket and contribute to diversifying the economic foundation of the Iraqi economy and guaranteeing sustainable water rights. (MoA) working to promote rural employment, increase farm income and productivity, and restore vital services to the farm community, and intends to transform Iraqi agriculture into a market-based sector in which the Ministry supports farmers, processors and marketers with world class research and development and effective regulations the Ministry has developed short and long-term strategic plans, a budget and an administrative reorganization.

• Developing quick-impact activities to stimulate agricultural production that included rehabilitating agriculture colleges, procuring and distributing veterinary medicines, rehabilitating veterinary clinics and demonstrating new crop technology.
• Restoring the marshlands] in the south for developing a river basin, fisheries and improving the living standards of the Marsh dwellers.
• establishing date palm nurseries in 13 governorates to help restore Iraq’s once dominant position in the international date market.

(Some Selected MoA Programs)

farmers soft loan fund

The number of borrowers (women only) from 01/08/2008 until 12/31/2013 and beneficiaries of the agricultural initiative (125) borrowed covering all the agriculture activities. The total amount of loans granted to them 30,961,525,000 Iraqi dinars

Department of rural women development carrying training, field days, field observations, lectures, seminars and activities on the following subjects:

Environmental and health side Seminar

Food and rural cottage industries

Fighting ectoparasites on sheep and goats

Agriculture in greenhouses

Shear sheep wool

Immersion sheep

Breeding sheep and goats

Bees keeping

Vegetable growing in the home garden / animal husbandry at home products (tomato paste, molasses, vinegar) / building character of rural women in agricultural decision-making / agricultural loans

The importance of agriculture in greenhouses

Organic fertilizers and their importance

The importance of rural and food industries in the rural family / methods of food preservation and conservation of support from pollution

Post-harvest operations and its role in the agricultural / motivate women to complete the Marketing Education for the advancement of agricultural reality

Empowerment of rural women in small business management / post-harvest operations

Cows breeding

Mushroom cultivation / organic fertilizer industry

Building character of rural women in agricultural decision-making / water conservation / optimize the use of chemical fertilizer use

Related products / (industry juices, tomato paste) / importance of the implementation of agricultural projects

Mushroom cultivation / organic fertilizer industry

The unification of the estrus ewes / agricultural loans

Health care for cows and milking mechanical / building character of rural women in decision-making

Protected cultivation for the production of vegetables / motivation to learn and complete the Education crops

Food and rural industries

Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MoLSA)

The MoLSA is one of the oldest Iraqi ministries.  It was established in 1939

Goals and Officiated Tasks

Confirm the value of work as a right and duty to everyone capable of doing it.

Suggest unified work wages policy.

Deepen and distribute the democracy practice towards labor relationships.

Provide social security for labor.

Deepen the understanding of vocational safety at work to secure protection for the worker from vocational diseases, work accidents and secure the machine maintenance and protect production.

Share in the development of human resources through training and rehabilitating the labors to get skills at various jobs.

Organize and practice maintenance service for the equipment, machines, transportation means and raise the capability of employees.

Provide care for the families with handicapped children.

Provide care and rehabilitation to children to ensure their participation in the process of development and remove all psychological impact against the process.

Take care of social reform for prisons to secure improving the prisoners, rehabilitation and education, study the circumstances of their families and support them.

Community Development

In the area of community development, aimed a special protection to vulnerable groups with limited income to improve their living conditions, support opportunities for community stability, strengthen the institution of the family, and give due consideration to the balance between the rights and duties of development partners from state and public institutions, Poverty reduction linked to the social security net program and small grants program that aims at generating income, in addition to the unemployment allowance program and social rehabilitation program that seeks to create income generating job opportunities, empowering the poor, building their capacities and rehabilitating them in a bid to increase their productivity.

Community development fields:

Social Security Network

The Social Security Network had very high coverage, encompassing vulnerable groups (the disabled, widows and widowers, the elderly…). The fluctuation in the rates of those covered from 2009-2010 is due to changing inclusion controls in the network, and the disqualification of the cases not covered under the controls.

The Disabled

The percentage of disabled individuals benefitting from centers for the mentally disabled in 2010 and 2011 increased by 2.4% and 5.1% respectively.

The levels of utilization of the absorptive capacity of centers for the mentally disabled increased during 2009, 2010, and 2011 by 75%, 76.8% and 80.7% respectively.

Numbers of individuals receiving services from centers for the physically disabled increased from 2009 and 2010 by 8.3%.

Levels of utilization of the absorptive capacity increased, with the percentage of those receiving services increasing in 2009 and 2010 by 44.5% and 48.2%.

MoLSA Programs

Training Programs

The Pilot Programs, Vocational Training Programs for job seekers within which include (Business Innovation, and acquire life skills) for the period from 2006 until 01.11.2015., according to the requirements of the labor market through the adoption of such pilot programs in vocational training centers to gain trainee skill in a particular profession, to train (10101) job seekers (3476) male and (6625) from females. the knowledge and skills of job seekers in the field of the establishment of small enterprises as well as bridge the relationship with the labor market and allowing young people to establish their own businesses through training on the preparation of a typical action plan. The MoLSA came out (18 755) in search of work during the year 2014 registered in its training courses base (educational, professional, and entrepreneurial) set up by the distributed training centers between Baghdad and the provinces of (37) training professionally center (15 ) than in Baghdad and the rest distributed among the provinces.

Training of the Beneficiaries of Social Protection to Set up Small Income-Generating Projects

in collaboration with UNDP, and the Central Bank release loans to the beneficiaries social protection to establish small-scale projects. MoLSA work in collaboration with UNDP to set up training courses for women wishing to access to loans granted by the Central Bank of the beneficiaries include how to set up income-generating projects and study the feasibility of the project, the value of the loan up to 50 million dinars, 5.5 percent interest.

Small Income-Generating Projects Support

The MoLSA lending (16753), looking for work individuals in Baghdad and the provinces except for the Kurdistan region to support small income-generating projects For the period from 2013 until 2015. a small project within projects (lending fund, industrial and services), according to Law No. (10) for the year 2012. The limit of the loan amount( 10-12) million Iraqi dinars within the industrial services, repaid principal and interest-free in the form of annual installments over five years with a grant to allow a period of one year the ministry is seeking through the implementation of various lending programs to reduce unemployment in Iraq and the integration of marginalized groups in economic and social life and turning them from consumer items to the actors productive and that by enabling them to set up individual projects small income-generating.

Soft Loans

Soft loans to the poorest groups within the strategy of poverty reduction for the period from 2012 until 2015. the ministry lent (9924) individuals to the poorest groups in society (widows , divorced women, heads of households, returned IDPs, those released from prison who learned the profession , and beggars, and the unemployed poors ) to create small projects, in Baghdad and all the provinces except for the Kurdistan region to set up small income-generating projects, MoLSA seeking through the implementation of the strategy to integrate marginalized groups in economic and social life and turning them from consumer items to actors productive, enabling them to set up individual small projects income-generating.

Ministry of Health (MoH)

The MoH of Iraq was founded in the middle of previous century.

Its task is to provide health and medical services to every Iraqi citizen during normal and emergency circumstances in the country. The ministry also administrates the affairs of health and medical cadres in Iraq. It has a responsibility to provide best requirements of curative and health preventive security to all individuals of society. Health services have been developed by theMoHand its facilities. Consultative and service facilities expanded in a remarkable way. Iraqi people, hospitals and health centers suffered from wars and destruction. But, in spite of all these circumstances, health ministry and its cadres could provide best services to Iraqi citizens.

The health care system in Iraq was, for many years, well funded at or above the level of surrounding nations. Due to economic devastation from war and sanctions, the Iraqi government dramatically decreased spending on health care to as low as 0.2 dinars per person during 1991-1995. In recent years, lack of security in Iraq has taken a heavy toll on health care services. Many doctors were targeted and killed by militia, while others fled the country. Most have yet to return. During this time the quality of medical education has also suffered, creating the potential that new doctors entering the field are less prepared than their predecessors. Women especially have suffered from the lack of qualified, experienced female medical personnel.

Though government funding for health remains low, but access to quality health care is a top priority for most Iraqis-- particularly women and also are suffering from lack of access to and information about their rights to basic health services.

Public Outreach and Education¹⁹

The MOH and the SMoWA have conducted several public outreach health campaigns in recent years targeting issues such as breast cancer and H1N1 (ongoing). The SMoWA in collaboration with the MoH initiated a campaign for breast cancer awareness. The campaign included media spots, brochures and seminars to educate women on the importance of self-exams. The anecdotal evidence showed an increase in the number of women going to health care providers about abnormalities they found during self-exams. However, public awareness of many health issues remains limited. According to the 2006 Iraq Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), only 38.5 percent of children in Iraq (47% in KRG) were fully immunized. Awareness-raising is a key component of prevention. Also, many citizens do not know their rights to health care, or which services are provided by the GoI and which are the responsibility of the patient. Costs of treatment vary widely and stakeholders interviewed reported that patients must often bribe medical staff and attendants in order to receive care. This engenders a lack of trust in the medical system, further undermining effective prevention and treatment of disease.

Health and Reproductive Health

The MoH has sought to develop medical practices that help control chronic diseases in the areas of maternal and child care, which has seen remarkable progress represented by reducing the number of deaths of children and the MoH, continues to work on the application of the immunization program against Communicable Diseases, Vaccinate children under five years is one of the most important steps to prevent disease and reduce the incidence of deaths due to the transition of diseases, the first line of defense to protect the child, such as (B. C. G)According to the annual report ofMoHfor 2013 have been recorded (91 %) of vaccine coverage (B. C.G) demonstrates the increasing awareness of the mothers of the importance of vaccinating their children, the DPT and polio have been recorded (85 %) for the first dose and the single measles vaccine (74 %) and viral hepatitis vaccine (86 %) should make efforts to raise the proportion of vaccines, especially in low-coverage governorates.

Child and Maternal Mortality Rate

Meant the death occurring during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum (puerperal) summary results of a survey showed the map of poverty and maternal mortality for 2013 that the maternal mortality rate (35) deaths per (100,000) live births on the level of Iraq, decline compared with 2006's (84) deaths per (100,000) live births.

Figure (4) maternal mortality rate for the period (1990-2013) for each (100,000) live births

Source: Survey Results and maternal and child mortality in Iraq for 1999

Report survey of living conditions in Iraq for 2004

Abortion

Abortion rate was 7.5 per 1,000 women of childbearing age at the level of Iraq for 2013 and the highest rate among the governorates (12.3) in Wasit, and lowest rate (3.5) in Diwaniyah.

Cancers

Cancer still at high level in Iraq, especially women with breast cancer amounted (3464) infection for 2010. Followed by leukemia (715) and (587) between men and women, respectively

UN Agancies

World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO supports countries as they coordinate the efforts of multiple sectors of the government and partners – including bi- and multilaterals, funds and foundations, civil society organizations and private sector – to attain their health objectives and support their national health policies and strategies. WHO main areas of work are health systems, promoting health through the life-course, Non-communicable and Communicable diseases, corporate services, preparedness, surveillance and response. The WHO country health profile of Iraq provides key statistics and links to health topical databases, plus news, features and Bulletin journal articles²⁰.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)²¹

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA expands the possibilities for women and young people to lead healthy and productive lives. Since UNFPA started working in 1969, the number – and rate – of women dying from complications of pregnancy or childbirth has been halved. Families are smaller and healthier. Young people are more connected and empowered than ever before

See more at: http://www.unfpa.org/about-us#sthash.FFmpkxKO.dpuf

Gender - Equality and Women Empowerment

UNFPA Gender: Interventions

The Gender Programme in UNFPA’s intervention is relatively new in Iraq, having started in 2008. It is foreseen that the programme will continue its work, addressing the impact of the conflict upon women’s status in the country’s development trends, as well as the continued challenge of political disputes as an overarching issue that impedes the progress of the status of women. From 2008-2010, the Gender Programme proposed prevention and responses for ending GBV through the provision of:

Combating Violence Against Women (CVAW)

A two-year multi-sector joint program for Combating Violence against Women (CVAW) in Iraq ending mid 2012. It aims to contribute to the following outcome “Improved environment for the protection of women’s rights and prevention of VAW throughout Iraq”.

Improving Prevention and Response to Gender Based Violence (GBV)

A Project entitled: “Improving Prevention and Response to GBV in Four Governorates in Iraq: Erbil, Baghdad, Najaf and Basra”. The project focuses on strengthening the capacity of service delivery points (centres) and district facilities to deal with GBV survivors in four governorates in Iraq as a protection measure for young girls and women in crisis. It as well aims to increase advocacy for and awareness of GBV issues and services available to women in these communities.

An ongoing advocacy and campaigning for CVAW and ending GBV through such activities as 16 days of activism, and International Women’s Day. UNFPA took the lead in conducting these activities in collaboration with the Gender Task Force and Advocacy Team.

The Programme conduct the following interventions:

Raising stakeholder knowledge on the extent/scope/level/range, forms and effects of VAW.

Incorporating the national VAW strategy plan of Action into sectoral action plans and local services.

Developing sectoral capacities on norms and standards for managing cases of GBV, a sectoral statistics system, and a referral system.

Increasing the institutional capacity building of female grassroots associations.

Supporting networks among women’s NGOs at the local and national levels with linkages to the parliamentarian women’s committee.

Enhancing the partnership between interfaith based organizations and local communities to advocate for women’s right for a life free of VAW.

National Partners

SMoWA; MoH; MoI, MoLSA; / Kurdistan High Council of Women Women NGOs; Parliament committees; and University Research Centers

UN Partners:

UN WOMEN, UNDP, WHO, FAO

Youth Development and Empowerment Recognizing the demographic transition that the Iraqi population is passing during the next 20 years, as well as the “Youth Bulge” as a demographic bonus that is creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges for Iraq, the National Development Plan (2010 – 2014) stressed on investing on youth, expressed as “Promoting the Empowerment and capacity of Iraqi youth to face social challenges and to contribute to community development”.

Jointly with other UN agencies (ILO, UNESCO, UNDP, WHO), this component aims to directly contribute to youth’s full achievement of their Human Rights (social, economic and civic), and to assist relevant government partners, civil society organizations, and local youth associations, to respond comprehensively to Youth development priorities.

National Youth Policy

The Government of Iraq (GoI), with international organizations has been working extensively to enhance the status of the Iraqis and deliver quality services at all levels. An adequate well-developed strategy related to youth will profoundly determine the future of the country. A strategy will empower and provide an arena for youth to make the right choices, protect them from exploitation and neglect and ensure their participation in all spheres of society. To address some of these issues and, more importantly, to take a strong stand in support of their young people, UNFPA is assisting the GoI to develop a long-term, consensus-based, integrated and cross- sectoral youth policy and strategy.

National Partners (at Federal and Kurdistan Regional Government)

Ministries Youth & Sport, Ministry of Culture & Youth (KRG), Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs, Ministry of Health, Youth NGOs, Parliament committees, academia, and University research centers.

UN Partners:

ILO, UNESCO, UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, FAO

Youth Friendly Health Services (YFHS)

In partnership with the MOH, UNFPA is institutionalizing a YFHS package within the Primary Health Care (PHC) centres that aims to respond adequately to adolescents’ and youths’ health needs and concerns.

UNFPA’s main activities include capacity building of service providers as well as strengthening the health information system in Iraq. The programme will cover the generation of strategic information on the dynamics of health-seeking behavior and utilization of health services by youths in Iraq as required for setting the basis for drawing a national youth health strategy, which in turn, will contribute and correlate with the National Youth Strategy.

Civic Values and Life Skills (CVLS) Education

The introduction of CVLS within the education system in a systematic and sustainable manner will allow a better preparation of youths’ future, in terms of securing their livelihood and reducing their vulnerability to external factors. Civic Values are conceptually defined as including the following concepts: Human rights, citizenship, national identity, tolerance and gender equality. As for Life Skills, they are defined as encompassing interpersonal communication skills, negotiation skills, teamwork, advocacy skills, decision-making and problem solving skills, critical thinking skills, skills for managing feelings as well as stress management skills. UNFPA’s main interventions in Iraq are to strengthen the institutional and staff capacities of the Ministries of Education (MOE), Labor and Social Affairs (MOLSA), and Youth (MOY) in Iraq to deliver quality formal and non-formal education through the promotion of CVLS and to integrate CVLS education in the Vocational Training Centers (VTC) operating under MOLSA, the Vocational Education Schools (VES) of MOE, both at central government and Kurdistan region.

Peer Education

UNFPA supports MOY, MOLSA, MOE and MOH to integrate CVLS based peer education into their agendas through establishing a ministerial and NGOs network and mechanism to support and facilitate peer education activities among youth. Such activities include Training of Trainers and cascade training for the Master Trainers to reach out to their peers in their respective governorates.

More information about Y-PEER Iraq

Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services

Strengthening rehabilitation and reintegration services is directed towards children and young people in reformatories. UNFPA’s main focus lies on strengthening educational, vocational and health services inside the reformatories; and supporting children and young people after their release through provision of social, vocational and educational reintegration services.

UN Women²²

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In doing so, UN Member States took an historic step in accelerating the Organization’s goals on gender equality and the empowerment of women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment: - See more at: http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/about-un-women#sthash.la9dX21w.dpuf

Gender Responsive Budgeting with UN Women Iraq

The Gender Responsive Budgets (GRB) project is delivering a series of training workshops, mentoring, and technical assistance to government agencies, civil society organizations, and academia in Kurdistan, Iraq. The goal is to facilitate the inclusion of gender equality issues across governments, and integrate gender equality issues in budget reform processes. the Services delivered: Policy and strategy development, training and capacity building.

The Scope of Activities.

The GRB project supports the Government of Iraq and the regional Government of Kurdistan to develop an effective, efficient, and responsive public sector through an administration-wide reform strategy. It is part of the Iraq Public Sector Modernization programme (I-PSM), a multi-agency UN joint programme.

Pilot projects in three key service sectors – Health, Education, and Water & Sanitation – focus on gender budget analysis. A joint task force of government and civil society was created to facilitate the exchange of best practices and experiences on mainstreaming gender equality issues in government budgets. In addition, information sessions with Parliamentary committees and the Council of Ministers help them to understand their respective roles in budget reform.

The project is working in close cooperation with the UN agencies mandated to implement the Kurdistan Public Sector Modernization programme.

To learn more about this project please contact us at gender@kit.nl or get in touch directly with the project supervisors shown in the right hand column.

United Nation Development Program (UNDP)

UNDP addresses a range of critical development issues, meeting the diverse and often shifting challenges facing the people it serves, from combating and adapting to climate change, to fighting poverty and inequality, from protecting the environment to promoting good, inclusive governance. UNDP aims to promote the protection of Human Rights and the Empowerment of Women²³.

UNDP Iraq seeks to help ensure the Government of Iraq has the necessary institutional framework to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in line with pro-poor, equitable and inclusive socioeconomic and environmental policies and strategies. UNDP supports Iraq in accelerating inclusive growth to ensure equitable, broad-based human development is attained by all citizens in Iraq. The Country Programme Action Plan is designed to strengthen national structures and processes to systematically track and review progress towards the MDGs by collecting and analysing data disaggregated by gender, age and location.

UNDP will expand its capacity development support to local area-based development to enhance local participation, accountability and transparency in adapting planning and delivery of services that better reflect the needs of Iraqi people on the ground.

Iraq’s natural environment is under serious threat that will lead to an irreversible process of degradation if development efforts continue without environmental and social consideration. Iraq therefore, needs to significantly strengthen its institutional response to environmental issues and climate change through improved policy and legislation, investment in the environment sector and monitoring and enforcement systems.²⁴

UNDP Programes

The European Union (EU)

Protecting Human Rights of vulnerable civilians in Iraq project is a three- year project funded by European Union through Minority Rights Group Organization. The project started at October 01, 2013 and will end at December 31, 2016. It will take place in 5 provinces of Iraq; Sulaymaniyah, Duhok, Kirkuk, Erbil and Mosul.

The main object of the project is to increase the capacity of civil society organizations and other civilians in Iraq and to advocate for increased protection by local, national and international actors.

Within this objective, the project will focus on the rights of vulnerable women. The general plan to achieve project main goal is to monitor and report violations of women rights across Iraq through a form developing that contain all the type of the violence as per Iraq and international laws, communicate with the related local authorities to facilitate the support procedure of data collecting and conduct two trainings to raise awareness about the sources of violence and women rights standards and laws nationally and internationally.

The project activities will be implemented through partners in other governorates. Establish PAO (people aid organization) in Kirkuk, Nujeen Center in Duhok and Altahreer organization in Mosul.

The mechanism of the implementation could be divided to many outcomes the project work on them through another list of activities. The outcomes diverts from contracting with NGOs to hire researchers, explaining the form for the researchers and other activists during the first training along with Human rights standards and women situation in Iraqi laws, providing the researchers with the needed official letters and communications and collecting data and information from VAW victims and families, witnesses, courts, police stations, press, clinics, government officials and medico legal institutes.

Minority Rights Group International campaigns worldwide with around 130 partners in over 60 countries to ensure that disadvantaged minorities and indigenous peoples, often the poorest of the poor, can make their voices heard. Through training and education, legal cases, publications and the media, the project support minority and indigenous people as they strive to maintain their rights to the land they live on, the languages they speak, to equal opportunities in education and employment, and to full participation in public life.

Project funded by:

The European Union

Partner Organization:

Minority Rights Group

NGOs

Um-Alyateem for Development Foundation (UDF)²⁵

UDF is a civil society organization with no political activity, based in Iraq / Baghdad /Al huria City / (438) /St. 30, mailto: info@umelyateem.org. The organization's vision: (A community of men, women and children as possible and conscious of its responsibilities actively involved in promoting democracy)

Initiative for Civil & Political Empowerment of Women in Iraq

This project implemented by Um-Alyateem Foundation (UMF) and funded by the United Nations Fund for Democracy (UNDEF) with partnership of (4) civil society organizations (CSOs) in (4) governorates (Gov) (women leadership institute/ Baghdad, Bent-Alrafidain org/ Babil, Sawa for human rights/ Muthanna, Al-Ferdws Iraqi Association /Basra). Duration of the initiative two years starting from (01/01/2014), aims to increase the political participation of women in rural and urban areas in the targeted governorates and targeting 400 women and 280 men from the local leaders. The project seeks to promote women's awareness  about the importance of political participation through voting and running for elections through implementation of (16) awareness and dialogue workshops, establish a support mechanism for candidates and elected women through the creation of (12) Women Support Group (WSGs) total of 240 women were trained on  support means and mechanisms and develop a plan to support candidates in their campaigns and support  elected women ( the new parliamentarians ) inside and outside parliament by implementation of several activities, (40) women trained on TOT skills  have trained women of WSGs. The project trained (80) women candidates to manage their electoral campaign and leadership skills, communication with media &voters and legal awareness about electoral systems, the project also seeks to build capacity of elected women in order to improve their performance through parliamentary training workshop for 20 new female parliamentarians with ongoing support by WSGs and monthly education and coaching provided by the political training academy will be established in Baghdad. The initiative includes several other activities Please click the below links

IRAQ Foundation (IF)

The Iraq Foundation, incorporated as the Free Iraq Foundation, is a non-profit 501(C)3 organization. The Foundation was established by Iraqis in 1991 as an independent, non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-ethnic organization. Our mission is to promote democracy, human rights, and civil society in Iraq, and help Iraq in contributing to regional stability

Widow’s Initiative for Economic Sustainability (WIES)²⁶

The goal of the Widows’ Initiative for Economic Sustainability (WIES) was to create jobs for over 500 female heads of household (FHH) and develop business opportunities so that FHH could attain economic independence. IF provided widows technical business and job skills training, assisted in forming new woman-owned medium to small enterprises (MSEs) and in expanding existing MSEs, and matched motivated and skilled FHHs to suitable jobs in the private sector.

Women for Equitable Legislation (WEL)

From September 2011 – December 2013, IF implemented the WEL project with the goal of reinforcing the framework of women’s rights by promoting and facilitating stronger and more effective legislation aimed at protecting those rights enshrined in the constitution and in line with international human rights standards. WEL successfully concluded with the endorsement of proposed amendments by members or parliament, in several cases exceeding the required number in the constitution, and their submission to the Office of the Speaker for consideration by the Council of Representatives.

Empowering Female Candidates (EFC) in Iraq

From February 2013 – August 2013, IF, supported by UN Women, implemented a training program for women candidates in local elections to enable them to participate in upcoming elections with greater confidence and ability to attract votes. Training was be conducted in cooperation with local partners on a variety of constitutional and political topics. IF carried out evaluations of the capabilities of local partners as well as those of the 300 women candidates trained as part of the project.

Empowering Iraqi Widows to Thrive (EIWT) Project

From September 2010 – February 2013, IF conducted the Empowering Iraqi Widows to Thrive (EIWT) project. The goal of this project was to improve the quality of life of marginalized widows in disadvantaged areas and equip them to be productive contributing participants in the Iraqi economy and Iraqi society. The project provided life skills education and education on women’s rights and citizenship to a large group of widows. Additionally, IF selected a smaller group of widows to receive vocational and entrepreneurial skills training tailored to the specific needs of their location. EIWT also provided on-going support and mentoring to “graduating” widows.

Human Rights Advocacy Initiative (HRAI)

From May 2008 – November 2010, IF conducted the Human Rights Advocacy Intiative (HRAI) project. The goal of the project was to empower Iraqi human rights leaders in civil society to be better advocates for human rights. The Iraq Foundation implemented a basket of initiatives designed to consolidate Iraq’s budding human rights community into a strong, broad-based advocacy coalition pressing to hold the Iraqi government accountable for the state of Iraqis’ civil and political liberties. The initiatives were designed and synchronized to be mutually enhancing and reinforcing.

Mdaina Education Project (MEP)

The Goal of the Mdaina Education Project (MEP) is to provide literacy training to illiterate and semiliterate adults and targeted computer training to small business owners and teachers as well as select technology personnel. In addition, a computer center was be established, which hosted the literacy and computer training programs as well as serve the larger community of Mdaina as computer labs.

Human Rights Defenders Network Project

Under this grant, the Iraq Foundation carried out human rights monitoring, documentation, advocacy, and networking training for 15 Iraqi human rights NGOs. Following the training, the Foundation has established a Human Rights Defenders Network (HRDN) composed of the trained NGOs. The Foundation is currently assisting the members of the Network in public outreach and advocacy on a regional and national level.

Human Rights Education Project

This project aims to spread a basic understanding of universal human rights principles and practices among the people of Iraq. IF has established a Human Rights Resource Center (HRRC) in Baghdad in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights, trained twenty trainers on the basic principles of human rights and international laws and conventions, and sponsored over 60 human rights education workshops across Iraq to date. In October 2006, IF started broadcasting radio programs as part of our efforts to broaden outreach, targeting a broader, more diverse audience across the country.

Promoting National Reconciliation in Iraq Project

Training Iraqi Social Workers on Conflict Resolution Methods

This project aimed to train Iraqi social workers on methods to mitigate family abuse and solve domestic conflicts peasefully. The project focused on women and children in the southern Iraqi Governorate of Basra

Iraq Civil Society Program

(ICSP)
Promotion of women’s participation in all facets of public life in Iraq

The Revitalization of Iraqi Schools and Stabilization of Education (RISE)

²⁷ Situation Analysis

In order to activate the positive role of women in development and carry on the efforts undertaken by the government : increasing women’s participation in economic and political life, eradicating all types of discrimination against women and achieving gender equality.

Demographic Statistics

²⁸IRAQ Geder Over View

A population pyramid illustrates the age and sex structure of Iraq

The population is distributed along the horizontal axis, with males shown on the left and females on the right. The male and female populations are broken down into 5-year age groups represented as horizontal bars along the vertical axis, with the youngest age groups at the bottom and the oldest at the top. The shape of the population pyramid gradually evolves over time based on fertility, mortality, and international migration trends.

Major urban areas - population:

Sex ratio:

Maternal mortality rate:

Life:

Health expenditures:

The Education Domain

Illiteracy rates are still high among the population but are even higher for women.

Recent surveys show correlation between age and the increase of female illiteracy rates that reached 16% for the age group 12 to 19 and around 20% in the 20 to 39 age group and 67% for women aged 50 years old and above.

The academic achievement of women declined. Around 22% of women cannot read or write and more than one third of the female population did not finish their academic path after primary education. 18% of women finished their preparatory or higher studies.

²⁹Most of rural people do not educate their girls or make them leave school which is known as education leak, more than half of women never finished their education because their parents not allowed them to attend school this need to make household be aware of women role in community. Result of I-WISH for 2011 showed that women aged (15-54) not complete their education (28.9%) and (24.4%) of women willing to complete their education and (30.4) of women willing to attend illiteracy.

Illiteracy registered higher rates in rural areas than in urban regions.

The gender gap in primary school enrollment is wide since male enrollment registered 96% compared with 88% for females. This gap becomes narrower in the intermediate stage and is totally bridged in preparatory education where enrollment rates register 21%.

The Health Domain

There are no gender disparities in the health sector in Iraq since health services are available for both sexes and at the same level and with a gender-based focus, except for the increase in breast cancer cases that affect women. 35% of Iraqi women suffer from breast cancer according to the registered cases in the Ministry of Health. On the other hand, there is a correlation between the reproductive health of women and their education level in terms of vaccinations, visits to neonatal clinics and whether they give birth under medical supervision.

The Social Domain³⁰

The percentage of female-headed households declined from 11.5% to 7.7 % in 2011.

The average age of marriage for women decreased from 23.5 to 22.4 years in 2011. The percentage of women who got married before the age of 18 increased from 22.6% in 2006 to 24.2% in 2011. This negative indicator led to a rise in divorce rates in this category.

Divorce rates in Iraq grew sporadically from 28690 cases in 2004 to 59515 cases in 2011 an increase of more than 100%. This shows the deterioration of the quality of social life in the country.

Marriage rates in Iraq declined from 262554 cases in 2004 to 230470 cases in 2011, registering a reduction rate of 12.2%. This is due to the increase in marriage expenses and the complicated social life, education and other.

Many women are still facing all types of violence: 46% of girls aged between 10 and 14 years old were subject to violence by one of their family members and around 36% of married women suffer from one of the types of psychological violence in marriage.

The Economic Domain

The rate of female participation in economic activity declined from 14.2% in 2003 to 13% in 2011. The participation rates vary between genders per geographic area. In rural areas, it registered 14% compared with 75% for malesand in urban areas the femal participation rate registered 13% compared with 76 % for males.

The gap between female and male participation in the labor market in urban areas grew wider in comparison with rural areas with 60.6 % of the economically active population in urban regions and 57.7 in rural regions in 2003. This rate declined to 57% in urban areas and to 51% in rural areas in 2011.

Around 11% of women aged between 15 and 54 are involved in paid employment and this percentage increases to 12.8% in urban areas and decreases to6% in rural regions.

Participation

Despite the obvious increase in female parliamentary seats in Iraq after 2003, the percentage of women in parliament declined in the current cycle to reach 25% after it had registered 27.3% in 2007. Female representation in government declined from six female ministers to only one.

Women’s participation in elections decreased from less than the half in 2005 to more than two thirds in 2010. Female participation in governorates’ councils also grew by 45%.

Women’s participation in the Iraqi community declined since less than one woman out of ten is enrolled in a social club or forum, trade union, political party or womens’ association.

Despite the fact that Iraqi legislations and laws do not discriminate between women and men in all different fields including leading or senior positions, cultural and social factors are still the main determinants of said roles.

The percentage of female decision-makers increased to reach 9 director general positions in the Ministry of Planning, 33 expert positions in the Ministry of Power and rates vary in other ministries.

Challenges

Despite the achievements accomplished by Iraqi women in all aspects of life, they are still facing major challenges, including:

Cultural and social values impose restrictions on women’s participation, work and movement, under a patriarchal masculine culture dominated by men and where women are subordinates.

The level of women’s education and training opportunities is low. They have limited chances to participate in politics and have been deprived from entering specific areas of work for a long time. Moreover, the burden and pressure carried by women at home and in work grew larger.

Despite the participation of women in public life, this does not guarantee their autonomy and equality with men. Women are not participating effectively and actively in most of the legislative, judicial and executive powers.

The typical Iraqi household’s perception of the type of work suitable for women is still traditional to a large extent. Government jobs are the most desired and preferred type of employment. Many women still suffer from unemployment and from lengthy job searches and consequently, more women are working marginal jobs and in informal labor markets.

Women’s participation in economic activities is weak, especially in rural areas where many women work without getting paid which affects the developmentalrole played by women and their social status.

At present, NGOs provide support to victims of domestic violence. However, women’s rights NGOs seeking to provide support services to victims of domestic violence face significant bureaucratic hurdles.

Recommendations

This report find that a good availability gender based-disaggregated data in the related gender development sectors, the approach for generating gender disaggregated data and indicators. especially CSO in coordination with gender statistics unites within the ministries’ and Governmental administrations, produce sex based -disaggregated data.

The recommended priorities for the relevant parties are: -

The specific importance statistical departments, is the MoA. besides, the extension department efforts to rise the awareness about knowledge regarding gender concepts between staff’s and the farmers.

Capacity building programs should be developed and implemented for the relevant ministries and stakeholders, especially for MoA Staff and the agricultural extensions staff, on gender issues and on how to mainstream gender at the various stages

The importance of updating the (Status of Rural Women in Iraq 2014) produced by CSO, on yearly bases and looking for the ability to extent it to include the status Iraqi women in general

CSO, as the governmental body responsible for generating national statistics should encourage the dialogue between the women NGOs and the related research institutions and media to more better understanding of gender issues and bridging the gaps

Integration of gender analysis approaches diagnosing and targeting the real constrains in rural and urban areas to help policy and decision makers.

The importance of enhance the economice role rural women by maximizing her income from agriculture by adopting chain value of her agriculture production

Coordination is an important aspect of gender mainstreaming. Although the overall responsibility for gender mainstreaming is collective and institutional, each organization

Women’s increased access to educational and training opportunities not only increases their participation in the labor force but also expands the range of occupational options available in the market. The vulnerability of poor women in Iraq is closely linked to illiteracy and low levels of education. Thus, adult literacy programmes must form part of gender mainstreaming efforts;

There is a need to create awareness for women and men to venture in the ‘non-traditional’ and stereotyped careers e.g. Females drivers and male Secretaries in the sector, through affirmative action. This could be achieved through systematic gender capacity building at all levels to create understanding and appreciation In addition sufficient resources should be provided for gender issues;

Make use of media to enhance women’s role in peace building. Media continues to dominate as a powerful messaging tool in the post conflict environment. Engaging men and women in media (print, television, and radio) training on the important role women can play in peace building is a vital innovative tool.

Finally, it is important to find official (governmental) as national body instead the cancelled SMoWA to lead the responsibility and adopting of women’s advancement strategy and gender equality