There is no doubt that the feminist movement within Iraqi civil society has reached a new stage of maturity, enabling many activists to achieve goals which previously seemed out of reach. Perhaps one of the most prominent signs of this success is the integration of women into organizations and institutions in decision-making roles. This broader inclusion of women is precisely what the Kahramana masar (path) of the Iraqi Social Forum has helped to achieve. Kahramana, with support from the Tammuz Organization for Social Development, has been involved in a series of advocacy activities which call for greater representation of women in leadership positions within the country, and more generally, to ensure that opportunities for women are on par with those available to men of similar competence and experience.

In order to enhance the ability of the Kahramana masar to continue its exceptional work, activists (both men and women) received a specialized training on the mechanisms of managing advocacy campaigns. The training was organized at the headquarters of Tammuz Organization for Social Development in Baghdad on 15 September and was led by the activist, Ahmed Alaa, a member of the Iraqi Social Forum. 26 activists from the Kahramana masar attended; they benefitted from professional advice and took part in detailed discussions about the opportunities and challenges campaigns often face.

The training was sponsored by the European Union in cooperation with Tammuz Organization for Social Development and the Iraqi Social Forum, in partnership with the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative and the Italian Organization, Un Ponte Per.…