Photo By Sgt. Scott Wolfe | Lt. Col. Anne Resty (back row, 2nd from left), along with her fellow members of the...... read more read more
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By Staff Sgt. Scott Wolfe
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Soldiers and civilians from the Women's Affairs team of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, attended the inaugural Women's Initiatives Seminar at the Joint Visitors Bureau Hotel on Camp Victory Jan. 17-18.
The seminar was hosted by Multi-National Corps – Iraq and attended by representatives from all of the divisions in MNC-I as well as Provincial Reconstruction Team leaders and three members of the Iraqi government.
The 14 Iron Brigade Soldiers and civilians were headed by Lt. Col. Anne Resty, of Clarinda, Iowa, the brigade physical therapist and leader of the Women's Affairs for the 2nd BCT's area of responsibility.
Resty said she brought a large portion of her Women's Affairs team to meet their counterparts from the other brigades within MND-B.
"This seminar is the first time the brigades in the division have met each other face to face," said Resty. "We are using this seminar to meet the heads of the other MND-B brigades and comparing the Iron Brigade's efforts with theirs to see where we stand."
The first day of the seminar included briefings by three members of the Iraqi government: Dr. Nawal al-Samarraie, minister of State for Women's Affairs; Dr. Sallama Al Khafajii, advisor for Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih; and Dr. Sameerah al-Mowsawi, a member of the Council of Representatives for Women, Family and Children. Each of the three spoke at length about the current difficulties and obstacles women are currently facing in Iraq. They also spoke of the strides they have taken and the initiatives the Iraqi government has begun to alleviate some of those conditions.
During the second day of the seminar, each of the divisions – North, West, Center and Baghdad – split into their respective areas of responsibility to share information and discuss progress, programs and ideas with their division teammates.
During the seminar, Maj. Clayton White, from Lufkin, Texas, who serves as a civil affairs team chief, attached to 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, based at Combat Outpost Meade in Mahmudiyah, shared his insights of a bazaar and the successes of Iraqi widows, who had received micro-grants to jump-start small businesses, had achieved. This is significant, he explained, because they were no longer supported by their husbands and had a means of taking care of themselves.
One of the biggest hurdles Iraqi women face in the Iron Brigade's area, said Resty, is a high rate of illiteracy. It is an issue her team is attempting to help overcome.
"Getting the government of Iraq to buy into programs is the hardest part," said Resty. "We can do starter programs and get non-governmental organizations involved, but the Ministry of Education needs to make these plans sustainable in order for them to work."
The seminar was a valuable experience, said Resty, because it pervades her and the members of her team an opportunity to put faces with the names of those capable of helping come up with new ideas and solutions to address women's issues in Iraq.
"The idea," said al-Mosawi, "is to make all the people in Iraq want to have this women's initiative succeed."
| Date Taken: | 01.21.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.21.2009 03:00 |
| Story ID: | 29082 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 296 |
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