Consultative session on supporting the third national plan for women, peace and security in Iraq

In response to the invitation extended by the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers / the National Women’s Department of Iraq,

Participation of the Tayba Organization for Relief and Development

The consultative session organized by UN Women and the National Women’s Department of Iraq with civil society organizations to support the third national plan for women, peace and security in Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq – February 5, 2025 – The National Women’s Department of Iraq, in cooperation with UN Women, held a high-level consultative session with the participation of 75 representatives of civil society organizations and the Government of Iraq, with the aim of supporting and strengthening the women, peace and security agenda and developing the third national plan for Iraq.

As a pioneer in the field of women, peace and security, Iraq is working to develop the third national plan that will be launched soon. During the consultative session, Dr. Ahlam Shahid presented the third national plan on behalf of the National Women’s Department of Iraq, where she reviewed the pillars of the plan, which focused on strengthening institutional frameworks, legal protections, and community support for women’s leadership. The session highlighted the vital role of civil society in shaping and implementing the plan, and included effective discussion dialogues and the vision of civil society organizations that were directly integrated into the plan completion phase to ensure that community views are represented through organizations in national policy-making.

Dr. Yusra Karim Mohsen, Director General of the Iraqi National Women’s Department, expressed the importance of integrating women into security institutions, saying: “Including women enhances the effectiveness of security institutions and strengthens their ability to respond to crises and challenges. Our vision is to build a society based on justice, where both women and men contribute to achieving sustainable peace.”

Mr. Ajay Madiwali, UN Women Representative in Iraq, also emphasized the crucial role of women-led civil society in shaping and implementing the third national plan, saying: “Civil society remains an integral part of promoting women’s health, supporting their economic empowerment, and enhancing their role in peacebuilding efforts across Iraq.”

The consultation session concluded with a commitment from all parties to ensure that women’s rights, leadership, and political participation remain a central focus of Iraq’s national and international policy agenda. As the launch of the third national plan approaches, the National Women’s Council of Iraq and UN Women continue their efforts to develop comprehensive policies and continue working with civil society to advance the women, peace and security agenda in Iraq.