Interview with Suzan Aref, Director Women’s Empowerment Organization (Iraq)
Column based on interview by Margaret Williams (IPI Global Observatory), added and edited by WPP
Following the WPP panel discussion in New York on UNSCR 1325 implementation in the MENA region, Suzan Aref gave an interview expanding on the developments related to the Women, Peace & Security (WPS) agenda in Iraq. She highlighted the impact that the influx of Syrian refugees and the increase of internally displaced Iraqis fleeing the Islamic State (IS) has had on WPS in Iraq. She also discussed the development and adoption of the Iraq National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325, the first NAP in the region. It has been a ground-breaking process, but challenges for its implementation remain. Looking ahead, Aref talked about the opportunities for progress of the WPS agenda and the barriers that may stand in the way of that progress.
Iraqi Kurdistan, the region where Suzan Aref is based, is directly affected by the armed conflict at it borders, both with regards to Syria and IS. As refugees, these women find themselves in an even more precarious situation due to their insecure status. The Women Empowerment Organization, the organization of Suzan Aref, is actively working in the refugee camps, providing basic services for women with regards to health care. The organization’s focus is now headed more towards looking to the future and equipping the refugee and internally displaced women to be able to take care of themselves and their families.
“This means that we have to provide them with some kind of income-generation projects, because it is difficult to survive like this without any income. Especially to protect women from trafficking and prostitution, we have to empower them economically. This can be done through some small projects, where they can improve their skills and we can help them start their own businesses inside the camps. We also help to take care of their children. Education for their children is also vital.”
Aref further states, “this is the time to provide the refugee and internally displaced women with these kinds of services. They don’t need humanitarian aid anymore; they are beyond that. Now they are at a stage to continue their lives and to be integrated in the development and peace process.”
Even for those who are not displaced, in societies facing violent conflict many women become head of the household and leaders in their communities for the first time. According to Aref, in the short term, these changes present a great challenge to these women since they have to deal with all the responsibilities of providing for the household without the preparation or the opportunities that men have access to. However, Suzan Aref feels that in the long term, because they are required to take an active role in society, this may have a positive effect on the perception of women’s participation in that society.
Iraq is the first country in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to develop a National Action Plan (NAP) for the implementation of UNSCR 1325. The NAP was drafted by the Alliance for the Implementation of the National Plan for UNSCR 1325. This Alliance includes the Iraq I-NAP Initiative 1325, Iraqi network for UNSCR 1325 and a group of CSOs and civil activists defending the rights of women. As coordinator of the NAP, Suzan Aref was closely involved in the process, ranging from negotiating with all the stakeholders, organizing learning exchanges and drafting the document.
The NAP is structured around six pillars. Each pillar has its strategic objectives with corresponding specific actions, expected results and indicators, budget as well as the responsible actors and a timeframe. The pillars include (1) women’s participation, (2) protection and prevention, (3) promotion, (4) social and economic empowerment, (5) legislation and law enforcement, (6) resource mobilization and monitoring and evaluation.
In April 2014, the NAP development process seemingly came to an end, with the adoption of the NAP by the Iraqi government. It was only in November 2014 that civil society discovered that major changes had been made to the document. The government had taken out two of the pillars without consulting or informing the Alliance, nor explaining the motivation behind the removal. The pillars of social and economic empowerment and of legislation and law enforcement were removed. In addition, the implementation budget was left out in the adoption of the NAP.
As Suzan Aref rightfully notes, the exclusion of these pillars prevents a broad and holistic agenda for improving women’s participation in peace & security issues. Therefore the barriers that impede women from full participation in the economy remain. Likewise, the lift of the pillar of legislation and law enforcement will hamper the creation of legal amendments to abolish current laws that violate women’s rights or enact new legislation to protect these rights. Implementing the NAP becomes significantly more difficult without the allocated budget approval.
The Alliance for the Implementation of the NAP has called upon the government to disclose the reasons behind these changes, to re-install the original 6 pillar construction, including the two missing pillars, and to enact gender mainstreaming in government and political parties programs. They maintain that only by implementing the full and original NAP, the government can show its dedication to the Women, Peace & Security agenda, and sustainable change can be achieved.
Advancing women’s participation in peace & security goes beyond merely changing laws or adopting polices. Suzan Aref argues that a shift in the mind-set of society is needed in order to implement the Women, Peace & Security agenda effectively. “We need support for the organizations, laws, and women’s shelters that are being built. It is not enough for these institutions to exist; capacity building also needs to be accessible for those who need it”. Women don’t need to just have these rights on paper; they need to be able to claim them as well.
“The problem is that we are establishing institutions for women, such as a shelter for women to go to when they are threatened, but these institutions lack the preparation for the work they are supposed to do. For example, human resources are limited, or not qualified, there is no capacity building plan for the staff, institutions are difficult to reach by their supposed beneficiaries etc. This is the real problem that we face: we have nice things; we can say yes, we have new laws, very good laws supporting women. We have a shelter; we have a directory to combat violence against women. But again: what is the reality? Can women reach those rights and institutions? This remains very difficult.”
Therefore, Suzan Aref states that part of the solution is investing in and promoting education. In order for these laws to work, they have to be internalized by the society on a grassroots level. By educating members of society on women’s rights, a support-base is created for its implementation. This is the true key to social change.
Suzan Aref is the Founder and Director of Women Empowerment Organization (WEO), founded in 2004. WEO focuses on expanding opportunities for women. Suzan is also the Iraq Advisor for the Global Fund for Women, Co-chair of the Kurdistan Business Women Association, and Deputy Chair of the national SBDC Network. She has been appointed as the Coordinator of the Iraqi Initiative for the development of the Iraqi National Action Plan for UN Security Council Resolution 1325. From 2006-2009 she was an Assistant Advisor within the Equality Unit and Sustainable Development to the Kurdistan Regional Government Office of the Prime Minister. Amongst others, Suzan’s interest and experience lies with organizational development, capacity building, democratic dialogue & peacebuilding and activities that strengthen disadvantaged groups, in particular women from different life perspectives.
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