Since 2003, the Iraq government has continuously promoted “anti-gender” campaigns, sentiments, and policies. The most recent evidence of this promotion is an official instruction that bans the use of the term “gender” in all public communications as well as recommends replacing the word “homosexuality” with “sexual deviance”. Iraqi feminist activists have been insulted in the media and women have increasingly been publicly killed. However, efforts to combat the latter issue of femicide have been rejected due to claims that they go against the “culture” of the nation.
Efforts to protect human rights and improve gender equality should be the responsibility of everyone regardless of how they identify their gender. However, women have historically been subject to gender-based violence and discrimination and, therefore, are assumed to be more likely to promote gender equality. Despite almost 30% (admittedly still a minority) of Iraq’s parliament being women, the gender equality movement still suffers. Though some women have encouraged the anti-gender campaign, there are many who have spoken out against it and other gender issues in the country, but to great backlash and greater risks to their safety.
If you’d like to learn more about this issue, check out this op-ed below.
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2023/9/9/as-iraq-backslides-on-gender-equality-where-are-its-women-mps