Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq OWFI

1. Organization of Women’s Freedom in IraqOWFI IGJD Mexico 2010

2. 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

3. To: Mr. Paul Bremer Re: Letter Denouncing Women’s Abductions in Iraq 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 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 least attention of your troops. 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. 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 these new times, similar to the Baath era, was discrimination and assaults against women, whether organized by professional gangs or individual crimes supported by male chauvinism unleashed and unobserved by your authorities, 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 and abduction. The mere fact of her being a woman is reason enough for all to invade her humanity and pride unhesitantly. 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 brutal discrimination against women’s is a daily occurrence under your extensive military existence. After many months of your administrative supervision for founding governmental institutions such as Iraqi police, we do not witness any importance given to the issue of women’s insecurity. 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 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 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 that grants dignity and self esteem for women. We will not tolerate your compromise with misogynist reactionary groups that throw the blame on women when they want to justify discrimination, thereby exploiting the violence 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 offenders rather than victims. In other words, we find your cooperation with 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 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 continued deterioration of women’s status in Iraq. You must be aware that you are responsible for this situation. We expect a written answer to our concerns and demands. Yanar Mohammed Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq August 24, 2003 Anti – Abduction CampaignLetter to Paul BremerVisit to CPA & Police Headquarters Stop Women's Abduction & Killing اوقفوا جرائم اختطاف وقتل النساء x أيها الاحرار ومحبي الحرية والمساواة... انضموا الى تظاهرتنا الاحتجاجية ضد جرائم اختطاف وقتل النساء المكان: ساحة الفردوس ، بغداد الزمان: الاحد 24 آب 2003 الساعة العاشرة صباحا Join our Demonstration against the Crimes of Women’s Abduction and Killings Place: Al Fardawse Square , Baghdad Time: Sunday, Aug. 24th. 2003 , 10:00 a.m. التظاهرة من تنظيم منظمة "حرية المرأة في العراق" Organized by: The Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq - OWFI

4. Challenging Sharia-lawmakers on public forum 2 Death Threats by Email with 20 days

5. IWD Baghdad 2004

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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

9. Freedom Space: Building a woman-friendly movement with poetry and the arts Youth Movement producing an organized staff for OWFI’s radio station Al Mousawat (Equality)

10. 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

11. January 2010 After visiting Juvenile prison in BaghdadThe Compelling testimonies of Mena and Angham convinced OWFI to publish the report and take the risks. OWFI’s report includes a case study on parts of Baghdad … information in form of History, Geography and a sample statistic

12. Dangerous report Confrontation with officials

13. Thin Thin Aung Board Member, Women’s League of Burma, India