Women in Post-Conflict Iraq

01/30/2004

"One and one make two. That's great. What's a two?" - Bill Cosby

WOMEN IN POST-CONFLICT IRAQ

The World Bank, a member of the World Forum Alliance (http://mail.ccie.com/wf/organizers.php) has produced a video, "Women in Post-War Iraq," based on the observations of Manal Omar, Country Director for the Women for Women International NGO in Iraq.

In the video, Omar noted that Iraq has changed dramatically in the last five years. The notion of civil society does not exist in the country to date. Still Omar said she was optimistic about the prospects for Baghdad in the post-conflict period. During the 1950s and 1960s, women in Iraq were highly literate, contributed to the economy and were involved in women's rights issues throughout the region. The Baathist regime created a schism in Iraq where some women who were part of the party enjoyed the fruits of being aligned with the government. Those who were not affiliated with the regime fell into what Omar called an institutionalized poverty. Ghettos were literally created where women were living in extreme hardship. During Saddam Hussein's reign, there was also significant intellectual capital fleeing the country. International sanctions, the wars with Iran and the US complicated the difficulties faced by Iraqis, particularly women.

In the current post-conflict period, women are living in abandoned buildings, unable to afford escalating rents; refugees are arriving in Baghdad from outlying areas; and there is no central government to address these problems. Women for Women conducts surveys to better understand the vulnerability of these people. Security is a growing concern with rising levels of rape, kidnapping and trafficking of women. Women are afraid to walk the streets and are not going to work. Electricity and water access are problems. Some of the NGOs are trying to build leadership skills for women now so they may be more active politically, though Omar acknowledged women in Iraq at this point are more interested in receiving basic services than in who is governing.

To review and order this video, go to:
http://info.worldbank.org/etools/bSPAN/presentationView.asp?EID=448&PID=858

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