Violence and its impact on women in Iraq Malka Al-Haddad 4 th IARS International Annual Conference 15 th December 2015 Middle Temple Lane, London, EC4Y 9AT

Area of interest My interest is in Iraqi women's rights after US invasion and ISIS. - They study identifies how the war has affected Iraqi women

Main Points 1 Iraqi women's role 2 How violence and sectarian conflict affects Iraqi women 3 Conclusion

The historical role of Iraqi women Iraqi women are more advanced than other Arab women in the political field. For the first time in the Arab world, Nazeh Dulaim became an Iraqi minister in Dulaim enabled (implemented) equality between men and women by law. The aim of Iraqi women's progress in Arab society is to demonstrate its political presence in the community and in the struggle for freedom and independence. It is significant in the process of exercising their rights. In this way, Iraqi women are among the most liberal in in the Middle East. In the early 1940s, Iraqi women entered political life to fight fascism. Most of these women belonged to the educated class. Founded in 1945, the Iraqi Women's Association of anti- Fascism and Nazism contributed to Iraqi women playing an active and distinguished part in the uprising of January 1948, rendering the Treaty of Portsmouth worthless.

How US occupation and ISIS affects Iraqi women Since the U.S. occupation of Iraq, women have been the victims of rape and other ill treatment in jails and prisons. They have also been subject to inhumane raids, which are still common. Moreover, Iraqi women suffered heavily from torture while detained and imprisoned.

Iraqi women and human trafficking The US State Department released a report on human trafficking in the world, revealing that of all countries Iraq witnesses the worst cases of human trafficking for prostitution. According to the US report, Iraq was categorized as hotbed of human trafficking and smuggling from all over world.

Rape by the ISIS In 2014, many women from the Yazidi and Christian religious minorities have been raped and sold into slavery by the ISIS.

Over 2 million women who are breadwinners - In a field study conducted by the Iraqi Association for Hope, 5.35% of women hold important breadwinner role due to loss of head of the family as a result of sectarian conflicts - More over there are more than 3 million widows and divorced women

Women Refugees and Internally Displaced Moreover, 66,000 women and girls have been displaced by the war in Iraq since June Recently, over 2.9 million IDPs have been registered as women (UNMY)

CONCLUSION Iraqi women have been exploited by the US administration, the Iraqi constitution, Iraqi law, political parties and religious groups.