EUAM Iraq hosted an event on the Elimination of Violence Against Women

On 25 November 2019, EUAM Iraq hosted an event on the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.

The event was attended by representatives of the Coalition Forces and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as well as EUAM Iraq’s staff.

‘’Women need to be integrated into the Iraqi society fully and should have the same rights than men. Iraqi women are facing a lot of challenges, such as domestic violence, early marriage and sexual violence’’, one of the participants said.

Violence against women in Iraq in its most extreme form has been used as a weapon of war, such as witnessed during the recent genocide by Daesh in Iraq. However, violence against women also includes child marriage, domestic violence, sexual violence, and human trafficking. Violence against women not only harms the individual, but also has far-reaching consequence for families and for society.

At the heart of all forms of physical and sexual violence is gender inequality and discrimination, which violate the fundamental human rights of women and girls.The Head of Mission of EUAM Iraq, Dr. Markus Ritter, stressed in his opening remarks that the Mission is committed to continue working with the Iraqi counterparts, international partners and with civil society partners to prevent and address the violence that effects women in Iraq.