On September 27, Vision Education and the French Research Center on Iraq (CFRI) hosted the conference “Iraqi Women: Between Compliance, Resilience, and Emancipation” at the French Senate in Paris.

The event concluded an 18-month research project funded by Vision Education, focusing on the social conditions of women in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.

Zainab Khaleel Ali, Deputy CEO at Vision Education, told Kurdistan Chronicle that “Kurdish and Iraqi women have embodied a resilience that goes beyond survival; they have been the torchbearers of progress, often leading movements for education, human rights, and freedom in the face of unimaginable challenges.

“From the towering courage of Leyla Qasim, who became a martyr for her people, to the pioneering vision of Hapsa Khan, who transformed her home into a sanctuary of learning for women, these figures represent the soul of Kurdish perseverance,” she said.

“Funding this research is essential,” she added, “as it offers valuable insights into both Kurdish and Iraqi society. Our support for this research is about making sure the data is not only accessible, but also practical, so it can lead to real, meaningful change.”

Adel Bakawan, Director of CFRI, credited Vision Education for making the project possible. “When I launched this project on the conditions of women in Iraq and Kurdistan, we knocked on every door,” he said. “The only door that opened was that of Vision Education.”

Bakawan also said that, after the conference in Paris, a similar conference will be held in Baghdad and Erbil.

Iraq’s Personal Status Law

During the conference, there was much debate about proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law, which could legalize child marriage for girls.

Nazand Begikhani, Vincent Wright Visiting Professor at Sciences Po, Paris, told Kurdistan Chronicle that it is very important to raise awareness about these issues and encourage public debate.

She added that the conference is an opportunity to raise such awareness in the French Senate, “in order to pressure legislators and decision-makers in Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region, to stop going ahead with the amendments to the law.”

Safeen Dizayee, Head of the Kurdistan Regional Government Department of Foreign Relations, also told Kurdistan Chronicle that “Iraq is one of the founding members of the UN and has obligations to adhere to the main charter of the organization.

“Sadly, we have seen a retraction of several previous positions or achievements that Iraq had made, including those in Kurdistan.”

During the conference, Dizayee added that it is encouraging to hear diverse perspectives at these gatherings. “We must be brave enough to face challenges and take measures to address them.”

France-Kurdish Ties

Senator Remi Feraud, representing the Ile-de-France region, told Kurdistan Chronicle that the conference demonstrates the French Parliament’s interest in Iraq and “the strength of the bond between our two countries.”

“We care about the lives of men and women in Iraq and Kurdistan, and we aim to support civil society on this absolutely central issue of women’s empowerment.”

He underlined that “the link between France and Kurdistan is historic, extremely strong, and essential. It is a connection based on shared values, a common vision of the world, and the defense of diverse identities.” 

The Kurdistan Region and France have close ties, with France becoming one of the first countries to open a consulate in Erbil in 2018.

Moreover, France has supported the peshmerga forces in the fight against ISIS and played a crucial role in raising global awareness of Saddam Hussein’s persecution of Kurds in 1991, leading to the creation of a no-fly zone over the Kurdistan Region.

“The Kurds have always been friends of France, defending and protecting us against ISIS. It is up to France to live up to the friendship that the Kurds have shown us, as they embody values that are in line with those of France, the French people, and the Republic, including secularism, equality between women and men, and respect for religious diversity in the Middle East,” Senator Feraud said.

“Although the Kurds do not have an independent state, they are significantly present in four countries. They possess a very strong identity, and in Iraq, they have managed to demonstrate their ability to develop within the framework of the Iraqi state through an autonomous government. I believe that defending the Kurds, supporting them, and partnering with them should be a priority for French foreign policy.”

During the conference, Aurelien Chauvier, Deputy to the Deputy Director of the North Africa and Middle East Directorate in France’s Ministry for Europe emphasized that France is committed to gender equality in Iraq. To advance developments in the field, France’s Embassy in Iraq and Consulate General in Erbil include “men and women in our all programs, especially economic programs to support women entrepreneurs.

“We support women entrepreneurs in Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra, as well as in cultural sectors. Our efforts extend to supporting journalists and Iraqi artists,” Chauvier said. “We also have a program in collaboration with the French Football Federation to develop women’s football in Iraq. Additionally, our consulate general is organizing events featuring women poets in Kurdistan.”

Chauvier also underlined that France has not forgotten the genocide committed against the Yezidi community by ISIS in 2014 and underlined the importance of putting the perpetrators on trial. “We condemn this genocide by ISIS, and the systematic use of rape against women.”

Senator Feraud told Kurdistan Chronicle that he believes that France will continue to support the Kurds amid talks between Baghdad and Washington for the U.S.-led anti-ISIS Coalition troops to withdraw from Iraq in the future.

“I hope that the coalition against ISIS will persist despite the pressures being exerted on Iraq for misguided reasons related to the regional situation. Iraq and the Kurds must be protected from the extension of the conflict today, a conflict largely driven by Iran, to which of course the policies of Netanyahu’s government cannot be a solution either,” he said.

Wladimir van Wilgenburg is a seasoned reporter and analyst who specializes in Kurdish affairs, and holds a Master’s degree in Kurdish studies from Exeter University.