Investing in women, giving them a seat at the table and the opportunities to be in important decision-making roles offers multiple benefits for communities at large. This imperative resonates strongly with the work of UN Volunteers serving with UN Women in Iraq.
UN Volunteers Hawzhin Hussein, Noor Alhasany, Hajer Al-Sallami, and Ramia Al-Hakeem promote women's empowerment for a more inclusive and equitable society in Iraq.
Throughout the country, including in the Kurdistan region, they coordinate projects and manage initiatives aimed at empowering women across various sectors. Projects include education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political participation for women.
Hawzhin, Noor, Hajer and Ramia emphasize that society cannot progress till dedicated investments are made in women-centric initiatives.
Through their combined expertise in the development context, these UN Volunteers advance the initiatives of UN Women. "Investing in women isn’t about giving them a handout. It's about giving them a hand up. Unlocking their potential so they create change across all sectors of society," says Ramia Al-Hakeem. "Investing in a woman is investing in the community and empowering a nation,” adds her colleague, Hajer Al-Sallami.
Ajay Madiwale, UN Women's Country Representative in Iraq emphasizes the valuable support provided by United Nations Volunteers. “UN Volunteers play an important role in supporting UN Women’s Country Programme across all the pillars of our work. They represent emerging professionals and future leaders in the organization,’’ he says.
Through collaboration between UN Women and United Nations Volunteers, both entities can leverage their unique strengths to build a more inclusive and equitable future for all." -- Ajay Madiwale, UN Women's Country Representative in Iraq.
Speaking about this year’s International Women’s Day theme: 'Invest in women, accelerate progress', Noor Alhasany says that creating an enabling environment for women is not just a moral imperative. It's a strategic one. She adds, “When we create opportunities for women, we ensure a more prosperous future."
International Women's Day is a call to action and also a stark reminder that women with equal opportunities can create change. A change that has a ripple effect on all spheres of sustainable development.