Sexual and Gender Based-Violence in Iraq 2003-2018: A Mapping Report
Over the course of many years of conflict, violence and political instability, Iraqi women who faced SGBV were excluded from post-conflict efforts aimed at dealing with past human rights violations. None of the government-led transitional justice or reconciliation efforts have systematically focused on the impact of SGBV or shed light on the types of human rights violations faced by women specifically. As a result, the experiences of women have remained largely invisible to the public, which in turn has impeded the emergence of a common narrative regarding Iraqi women’s long history of abuse and violence. In fact, each group1 has stuck to its own narrative, which has only contributed to exacerbating divisions and hindering the acknowledgement of what the ‘other’ has faced or suffered.
This mapping report seeks to start addressing this reality and expose SGBV faced by Iraqi women between 2003 until 2018. The mapping process was initiated through a training organised by Impunity Watch and Iraqi Al-Amal Association in Beirut in 2018. The training focused specifically on mapping SGBV in Iraq to allow Iraqi women researchers to develop, implement, and evaluate effective transformative strategies to carry out applied research on the topic. The participants of this training subsequently led the data collection efforts based on what they had learned. Focus groups were also organised as part of the data collection process, and aided in the identification of root causes of SGBV as well as the formulation of the recommendations contained in this report. The report also includes several testimonies of Iraqi women, which were collected by women activists who were trained by Impunity Watch, Iraqi Al-Amal Association, and PAX to help them conduct interviews and collect data from SGBV survivors in an ethical and sensitive manner.
Gender, Human Rights, Women
Research
English
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Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Iraq 2003-2018