The Women and Democracy Initiative develops the capacity of Iraqi women, in tandem with women’s associations, local NGOs, and other women’s groups throughout northern Kurdish region in Iraq, to effectively advocate for democratic rights and opportunities for women in a new democratic Iraq.

Although Kurdistan region in Iraq is somewhat gender inclusive, women lack the experience and skills to fully participate in the new Iraqi democracy. Women participated in the first ever held elections in Kurdish region, Iraq in May 1992 and in the first democratic elections ever held in Iraq in January 2005. This project enables Iraqi women in fourteen villages to advocate for participation in bodies where Iraqi women are underrepresented in the decision-making process. A capacity building, training initiative enables women leaders to participate in their community leadership and to take a proactive position on women’s issues.

This project also provides the skills women need to be more proactive. Topics cover written media, person to person contacts, flyers, newspaper articles, television presentations, and presentations to political leaders and community groups. Topics also include writing advocacy articles for newspapers, distributing flyers on current issues and conducting presentations to community and other groups. The target audience for advocacy by women includes local, regional, and national government and other political leaders from northern Iraq, such as the members of village councils, members of the Kurdistan Regional Government, Ministry of Women Affairs in Baghdad, members of the Iraqi National Assembly and other leadership groups in Iraq.

Iraq’s national government is transforming from a repressive and exclusive government to a representative government that allows for public opinions and open political deliberations and decisions. In order for the new democracy to be sustainable, all Iraqi citizens, including women, need to participate in local community-politics and in the nation-building process.