On Wedsnesday 21st of May, the European Peacebuilding Liaison Office (EPLO) and PAX hosted an informal exchange with Iraqi experts and activists addressing women’s civic space. This discussion was set in a relevant time, as the year marked the 25th Anniversary year of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Agenda.
Civic space is suppressed in different ways and at different levels in Iraq. In some provinces, this included threats, abductions, and even imprisonment. An absence of civic space and marginalised voices threaten the potential for a truly inclusive and comprehensive peace in the country.
Yet, suppression doesn’t affect all types of civil society in the same way. Rights-based organizations – especially those working on human rights, gender equality, and LGBTQ+ rights – are specifically targeted. Growing ‘anti-gender’ sentiments are being used to restrict individuals and organizations working on human rights, freedoms, and democratic accountability, which has a disproportionate impact on women’s civic space. Furthermore, despite Iraq being the first country in the region to adopt a national action plan for UNSCR 1325 on women, peace, and security, feminist civil society actors have been excluded. Solidarity and support among civil society working at the nexus of civic space and gender equality – and from international actors like the EU – can make a difference to the safety and functioning of civil society in Iraq, contributing to greater social justice and strengthening the basis for post-conflict transformation and peace.
