Where peace starts (and women’s work in Iraq)

Building the precursors to peace in Iraq: protecting women

In the not-too-distant past, communities in Iraq faced the turbulence of conflict and they still are dealing with the social and practical aftermath of that.

Living in a state of wider conflict often has the impact of allowing controlling and abusive behaviours to spread throughout all levels of society – resulting in various forms of oppression, including through violence and the denial of various freedoms to certain groups.

And while parts of Iraq have seen violence against women and girls used directly as a weapon of war, areas like Basra, which may not have directly experienced war, are still affected by the aftermath of national instability. This results in economic stress and intense community pressures that can lead to behaviours which start out with the intention of protecting women and girls, but can inadvertently end up harming them by restricting their full participation in the community.

Tearfund’s local partner has been helping communities in Basra find ways to overcome some of these restrictive barriers and restore women and girls to more engaged roles where they are not at risk of violence, as well as fostering understanding and cooperation across diverse community and religious groups.

This is particularly important, as faith leaders in Iraq traditionally hold significant respect and influence in their communities, so encouraging dialogue between these leaders is key to bringing about any real change in how things are.

Respecting this, our local partner has been inviting these leaders to training and discussion sessions which bring into focus amongst them issues of conflict, including violence against women and girls, and the wider practical, economic and psychological consequences for individuals and society as a whole.

Drawing on deeply rooted religious principles that actually protect women's rights – such as their right to financial independence – these leaders are equipped and encouraged to advocate for change from a place of trusted, local legitimacy.

Through the sharing of knowledge and practical tools, the leaders are able to confidently go out and be the drivers for positive shifts within their communities that can eventually lead to equality and peaceful co-existence.

Through this work, attitudes and behaviours are beginning to shift.

Weaving change into ways of thinking: women in work

One crucial area of discussion has been around women working outside of the home.

Allowing women access to employment opportunities gives them the ability to contribute financially and in ways of thinking and decision making both within the home and in the wider community. It builds confidence and self-reliance and can help make women safer practically and psychologically.

The worried mum

Layla*, a 60 year old widow and a mother of three, explains how she used to stop her daughters from going out to work. She says, ‘I was afraid that if my daughters went out to work and were always out of the house for long hours or seen returning late, people would start talking about them or judging them. In our society, people sometimes speak quickly and without mercy. I was afraid that people's words would affect my daughters' reputation and my own family. I felt it was my responsibility as a mother to protect my daughters from any hurt or criticism they might be exposed to.’

Layla’s worries were understandable in the social context and in her desire to be a good mother, keeping her daughters safe. However, after spending time at Tearfund’s partner’s training, she acknowledges that this held her daughters back.

‘Because of my fear for them,’ she says, ‘I restricted their outings and didn't allow them to look for jobs. I thought I was protecting them, but in reality this limited their opportunities. They couldn't gain work experience, learn new skills, or become more self-reliant.’

Not being able to work also had the practical implications of making it harder to provide. In some cases, because women aren’t permitted to work, an alternative can be that girls are married off very young as a way to ease economic difficulties.

‘I can also see that preventing women from working or controlling their economic opportunities can be a form of economic violence,’ says Layla.

‘I used to think I was protecting my daughters, but I'm beginning to understand that it's also important to support their future and give them the opportunity to work, learn, and become more self-reliant.

‘If they find suitable and safe opportunities, I now believe it is their right to choose their own future, develop their skills and participate in society.

‘Of course, I still care about my daughters' safety and the family's reputation, but I've started balancing that with their right to work and build their futures. I no longer want fear of what people will say to be a reason for depriving them of opportunities.

‘Now, I hope to see my daughters working if they want to, and achieving their dreams, and that they will be able to be self-reliant and make their own decisions. I also hope, looking ahead to the future of girls and women, that people's views should not be an obstacle to them being able to work, and that they will be supported and we can make society more understanding.’

The concerned husband

Ammar*, who is a PE teacher and a 49-year-old father of three daughters, has also reconsidered how he sees things after attending training.

‘Before the awareness sessions, I had some concerns and reservations about women working. I thought that some types of work could affect family life and a woman's responsibilities within the home,’ he says.

‘I worried that if a woman works in a place where she is responsible for others or manages employees, she might become more severe or authoritarian in her dealings within the home, dealing with her family members in the same way she deals with employees, and I was afraid.

‘I thought I was trying to protect the family and maintain the relationship between the mother and her children. I wasn't seeing the issue from a women's rights angle sufficiently.

‘During the sessions, there were discussions that made me think differently about women's work and their rights to participate in society. I learned that preventing a woman from working can have a negative impact on her and be a form of economic violence.

‘I also began to realise that some of the ideas I thought were true were based on perceptions or fears, not necessarily on reality. I came to understand that a woman can work and fulfil her professional responsibilities while also being a mother, wife and member of society.

‘After the training, I now believe that women's employment can have a positive impact on women themselves, their families and society.

‘In the future, I hope that the women in my family and community have equal opportunities to work, and that these opportunities are safe and suitable for them. I hope that women receive support from their families and communities when they work and contribute to society also.’

The woman worker

Zahra* is a woman in her thirties. She’s been working, but her salary used to be taken from her. It was part of a wider way of thinking about how women and children are treated within families as a norm. She spoke about the changes she was excited to see in the future after attending the training.

‘Before I participated in the project, there were some practices within the family that I noticed were negatively affecting the women and children.

‘The children were constantly compared to other children, and it undermined their self-confidence and made them feel inferior to others. Some family members believed that hitting or harsh punishment could make the child more intelligent and focused, and help them succeed in their studies, so the children were subjected to physical and psychological abuse. For me, witnessing this caused sadness and anxiety because I saw its impact on the children's mental health and self-confidence, causing them to withdraw and not express themselves. They needed to feel accepted and encouraged by their families.

‘And there was also the issue of women's financial independence. One of my brothers suggested that mine and my sisters' salaries be taken and given to my mother, and that each of us received only a small amount daily. This meant we couldn't manage our own money or make our own financial decisions.

‘I felt there was restriction and unfairness, but at the time I didn't clearly know that it was my right to manage my salary.

‘After participating in awareness workshops and learning and reading more, I became better aware of women's and children's rights. I understood that violence isn't just physical; there's also psychological and economic violence, and that some practices we used to consider normal within the family and community can also be harmful and unacceptable.

‘After becoming more aware, I spoke with my family and over time, they began to understand and pay attention.

‘I feel happy and proud because what I learned wasn't just for me – I was able to pass it on, and that was great. It improved the family atmosphere in general. This made me feel that change is possible, even if it starts with a small step within the family.

‘I realised that I had the right to be financially independent and manage my own salary. It made me feel more confident in myself. I felt I was able to express my opinion and stand up for myself.

‘Today, I feel more knowledgeable and confident. I understand my rights better, and I can distinguish between certain customs and practices that we used to consider normal for women and children and things that can cause harm.

‘I learned that knowledge can change the way a person thinks, and that some things we're used to aren't necessarily true. I learned about the importance of children being protected from violence, and the importance of women being able to manage their own lives, finances and decisions.

‘What makes me most proud is that I was able to contribute to changing something within my family. When I see my sister become a source of support, and the children living in a safer environment, I feel that what I learned has had a real impact.

‘I hope to continue learning and sharing what I have learned with my family and community. I hope that children grow up in safe and supportive environments, and that women are respected and empowered to make decisions about their lives and finances.

‘I truly believe that women's work can have a positive impact on the family and society when women are safe, respected and empowered to make decisions about their lives.’

*Names have been changed for protection.