Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq

OWFI

IGJD Mexico 2010

OWFI in a few words• Born in Baghdad in

2003 after the occupation of Iraq

• Freedom of Women was chosen as a name in a challenge to religious, tribal and male-chauvinist groups.

• Mandate: – Equality between

women and men– Watchdog on

Women’s Rights in times of occupation and rising Islamism

Anti – Abduction CampaignAnti – Abduction CampaignLetter to Paul BremerLetter to Paul BremerVisit to CPA & Police HeadquartersVisit to CPA & Police Headquarters

To:To: Mr. Paul BremerMr. Paul BremerRe:Re: Letter Denouncing Women’s Abductions in Letter Denouncing Women’s Abductions in

IraqIraqThe four months since your troops have taken over in Iraq, proved to have exploded The four months since your troops have taken over in Iraq, proved to have exploded

unprecedented violence against women. Hundreds of women endured the pain unprecedented violence against women. Hundreds of women endured the pain and suffering of being kidnapped, raped and sometimes sold. This violence is still and suffering of being kidnapped, raped and sometimes sold. This violence is still a daily occurrence, especially in the streets of Baghdad without attracting the a daily occurrence, especially in the streets of Baghdad without attracting the least attention of your troops.least attention of your troops.

One of the justifications announced by the US administration as a pretext for the military One of the justifications announced by the US administration as a pretext for the military attack was introducing a new era of freedom for women and men in Iraq. attack was introducing a new era of freedom for women and men in Iraq. Nevertheless, all the subjugation and humiliation that we experienced since your Nevertheless, all the subjugation and humiliation that we experienced since your arrival, expresses bluntly the falseness of your claims. One of the main aspects of arrival, expresses bluntly the falseness of your claims. One of the main aspects of these new times, similar to the Baath era, was discrimination and assaults these new times, similar to the Baath era, was discrimination and assaults against women, whether organized by professional gangs or individual crimes against women, whether organized by professional gangs or individual crimes supported by male chauvinism unleashed and unobserved by your authorities, supported by male chauvinism unleashed and unobserved by your authorities, consequently turning the streets into no-woman zone. The moment a women consequently turning the streets into no-woman zone. The moment a women steps out to the streets, she is an immediate target to humiliation, sexual assault steps out to the streets, she is an immediate target to humiliation, sexual assault and abduction. The mere fact of her being a woman is reason enough for all to and abduction. The mere fact of her being a woman is reason enough for all to invade her humanity and pride unhesitantly.invade her humanity and pride unhesitantly.

Moreover, hundreds of women and girls were subject to physical assault to be followed Moreover, hundreds of women and girls were subject to physical assault to be followed by killing sometimes, in spite of the devastating ordeal of experiencing rape. This by killing sometimes, in spite of the devastating ordeal of experiencing rape. This brutal discrimination against women’s is a daily occurrence under your extensive brutal discrimination against women’s is a daily occurrence under your extensive military existence. After many months of your administrative supervision for military existence. After many months of your administrative supervision for founding governmental institutions such as Iraqi police, we do not witness any founding governmental institutions such as Iraqi police, we do not witness any importance given to the issue of women’s insecurity.importance given to the issue of women’s insecurity.

We demand that you undertake your responsibility of providing us with security as a We demand that you undertake your responsibility of providing us with security as a basis for decent life for more than half the Iraqi society. We demand the set up basis for decent life for more than half the Iraqi society. We demand the set up of security guards and patrols in every main street and community center on a of security guards and patrols in every main street and community center on a twenty four / seven basis. We also demand heavy sentences and penalties twenty four / seven basis. We also demand heavy sentences and penalties against sex offenders, on condition that we see concrete results on the streets against sex offenders, on condition that we see concrete results on the streets and not only on paper. We demand an administrative and legislative process and not only on paper. We demand an administrative and legislative process that grants dignity and self esteem for women. We will not tolerate your that grants dignity and self esteem for women. We will not tolerate your compromise with misogynist reactionary groups that throw the blame on compromise with misogynist reactionary groups that throw the blame on women when they want to justify discrimination, thereby exploiting the violence women when they want to justify discrimination, thereby exploiting the violence to force women into historic religious dress code that defies freedom and to force women into historic religious dress code that defies freedom and humanity of women. In case the women do not respond, they are regarded as humanity of women. In case the women do not respond, they are regarded as offenders rather than victims. In other words, we find your cooperation with offenders rather than victims. In other words, we find your cooperation with backward political groups such as tribal heads or political Islamists outrageous as backward political groups such as tribal heads or political Islamists outrageous as the first price paid being the freedoms of women. Women need a society that the first price paid being the freedoms of women. Women need a society that supports and empowers their pride and self-esteem. We expect an immediate supports and empowers their pride and self-esteem. We expect an immediate response to our demand of deserving a secure environment and will not accept response to our demand of deserving a secure environment and will not accept continued deterioration of women’s status in Iraq.continued deterioration of women’s status in Iraq.

You must be aware that you are responsible for this situation. We expect a written You must be aware that you are responsible for this situation. We expect a written answer to our concerns and demands.answer to our concerns and demands.

Yanar MohammedYanar MohammedOrganisation of Women’s Freedom in IraqOrganisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq

August 24, 2003 August 24, 2003

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الحرية ومحبي االحرار أيها...والمساواة

ضد االحتجاجية تظاهرتنا الى انضمواالنساء وقتل اختطاف جرائم

بغداد: ، الفردوس ساحة المكاناالحد: الساعة 2003آب 24الزمان

صباحا العاشرةJoin our Demonstration against the Crimes of Women’s Abduction and KillingsPlace: Al Fardawse Square , BaghdadTime: Sunday, Aug. 24th. 2003 , 10:00 a.m.حرية " منظمة تنظيم من التظاهرة

العراق في "المرأةOrganized by: The Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq - OWFI

2 Death Threats by Email with 20 days

Challenging Sharia-lawmakers on public forum

IWD Baghdad 2004

Participating with labour groups: Demonstrating for social insurance and unemployment benefits in front of what is called now the “Green Zone”.

Standing on the front lines to prevent US army shooting at peaceful demonstration.

Feminist work of 2003 - 2010

Women’s Shelters: since 2004, houses moved into twelve secret locations in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Salman Pak, and Karbala. Currently: 3 small houses.

Women’s Prisons Watch 2006-ongoing

2006

Rapes: six inmates raped in detainment centers

OWFI lobbied until 5 officers were imprisonned.

Torture

On female adults and on girls

Trafficking

first encounter with a victim of trafficking

Youth Movement producing an organized staff for OWFI’s radio station

Al Mousawat (Equality)

Freedom Space: Building a woman-friendly movement with poetry and the arts

About prostitution and trafficking• From the prisons: 70% of inmates detained under prostitution verdict

• While working with the destitute: families of women went missing between 2006-2008 into a trafficking market

• When we ventured into the brothels: activist documented situations and numbers to prepare a report of fact-finding

• Regional conferences and fears from publishing

January 2010 After visiting Juvenile prison in Baghdad The Compelling testimonies of Mena and Angham convinced OWFI

to publish the report and take the risks.

OWFI’s report OWFI’s report includes a case includes a case study on parts of study on parts of Baghdad … Baghdad … information in information in form of History, form of History, Geography and a Geography and a sample statisticsample statistic

Dangerous report

Confrontation with officials

Thin Thin Aung Board Member,

Women’s League of Burma, India