Our projects are showcased at #16DAYS UNHCR event

We were thrilled to take part in a big event as part of this year’s #16DaysOfActivism which highlighted the incredible work of local and international NGOs in Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The conference, called ‘Let’s Talk’, took place in Erbil and aimed to enhance discussion and raise greater awareness about the need to combat gender-based violence in Kurdistan and Iraq. 

It brought together many different organisations to mark the international 16 Days campaign which began on 25 November and runs until World Human Rights Day on 10 December.

The Lotus Flower delegation!

As part of the showcase, a number of our Boxing Sisters took to the stage to give a demonstration of their sparring and self-defence skills. As a highly fitting representation of female activism and empowerment, our successful boxing project enables girls to better protect themselves from GBV, and also builds their confidence and ability to recover from past trauma.

Our Boxing Sisters with US Ambassador Alina Romanowski

The Boxing Sisters were pleased to meet Alina Romanowski, Ambassador at Iraq’s US Embassy, who was one of the guests of honour at the event. She also met women’s-business owners who showed her their work, as well as sampling some of the cakes and pastries made by our Baking Sisters. Artworks and photography created by women we support were proudly displayed too.

In addition, a group from our recent Youth Suicide Prevention project were invited to perform traditional songs and music which they had learned especially for the day.

There were also interesting panels on topics around GBV prevention and elimination, with our Regional Director Vian Ahmed taking part in an informative debate on the need for greater community engagement. The panel focused on the importance of male participation and mobilisation in order to reduce GBV, and Vian spoke about external factors which have increased gender discrimination and violence, such as the effects of the pandemic, work pressures and alcohol and drug abuse.

Our Regional Director Vian (centre) in one of the panels

Vian also highlighted our Positive Masculinity program as one way of tackling damaging stereotypes and negative behaviours, which in turn can lessen gender inequality and reduce cases of GBV.

Other panel speakers included US Ambassador Alina Romanowski, Kwestan Mohammed Abdulla, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, and activist Hanaa Edwar, co-founder of the Iraqi Women’s Network. In this panel, which outlined a commitment to ending gender-based violence, SEED Foundation President and moderator Sherri Kraham Talabani stated that GBV cases rose in Iraq by 237% in the first quarter of this year. She added that almost half of all women in the country face violence in their homes. Meanwhile, she told how honour killings in Kurdistan have worryingly doubled this year. 

Speaking on this panel, Ms Romanowski told the audience that tackling GBV “needs to remain a priority” in both Kurdistan and Iraq, saying: “We’ve made progress but we’re not done, this is a generational challenge for us.”

It was a great honour to be involved in this prestigious event, and you can see more photos below…