Photo By Bethany Huff | Dr. Faeza Al Ebadi, the founder of the New Iraqi Women Organization, engages in a...... read more read more
By Capt. Stephen C. Short
172nd Infantry Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq – Iraqi leaders of non-governmental organizations came together to connect with peers and representatives of their government at the first Women's Initiatives Conference, Feb. 6.
The Women's Initiatives Team, which is composed of Soldiers from the 172nd Infantry Brigade and B Company, 403rd Civil Affairs Battalion, has the mission of connecting Iraqi government agencies to the women of Iraq.
The team seeks to empower Iraqi women to become key citizens with equal rights and privileges during the transformation of the government of Iraq. Their mission is to bring about an equal voice under law and basic human rights.
The team believes that in order to create opportunity and change, people must form a united front and get their voices heard within their communities and by their government.
Twenty-eight organization representatives from Babil province, Iraq attended the conference with 41 representatives being men and 12 women.
The conference began with opening remarks from Maj. Lucien Campillo, 172 Infantry Brigade executive officer, welcoming the distinguished guests to the conference and thanking the Women's Initiatives Team leader, 1st Lt. Gloria Brickles, for her team's hard work putting the conference together.
Brickles asked representatives to come to the podium and introduce themselves, speak about their organization, its history and list some of its projects.
There were no shy speakers as leaders from youth associations, human rights groups and women's support groups spoke in depth about their organization's beliefs and efforts to improve people and their country.
"The Iraq Organization for Motherhood, Childhood and Handicap Care of Jurf As-Sakhr was established after the fall of Saddam Hussein, and we focus on the issues of women, children and the disabled," said Jabbar Mohammed Naif, an attorney attending the conference.
"Our achievements are providing humanitarian aid, courses covering computers and literacy as well as health promotion," he added.
The common theme recognized among all the speakers were the abhorrence of violence and desire to improve the human rights and lives of women in Iraq. The delegates informed the brigade of some of the most important issues facing their organization.
"I need to know how my organization will be funded once the U.S. Army leaves Iraq," said Hazim Al-shafeei, a delegate from the Ard Alfuratain Youth Association. "I really want to know how the process works for the Iraqi government to provide funding for our group.".
The groups gathered concerns and pressing questions for forwarding to the appropriate government agencies, all in hopes of connecting the Iraqi people to the Iraqi government.
The event planning started in January and went into February with meetings conducted between the Women's Initiatives Team and Amira Abed Salman, the Babil Province Deputy Chairwoman of Women's Affairs.
"I plan on sitting down with Amira and presenting the consolidated questions and issues gathered at the conference," said Brickles. "We will work out a system where the NGO's can submit their proposals to the government, and our team will be the facilitators to make this happen."
"This conference brought many different people together to create one voice for change," said Brickles. "I truly believe in the power of the people to make change for women in Iraq."
Brickles concluded the conference by thanking Spc. Gretchen Hubbard, a 172nd Infantry Soldier from Winnipeg, Canada for writing the closing remarks speech.
"We are all here for one common goal," said Brickles. "We want our daughters and granddaughters to have a better life, full of opportunity and possibilities beyond those afforded to us."
| Date Taken: | 02.06.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 02.12.2009 12:36 |
| Story ID: | 29952 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 61 |
| Downloads: | 34 |
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