Campaigning for Change in Conflict Environments: A Case Study on Islamic Relief’s Development Programme to End Violence against Women in Iraq

Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is often systematically used as a ‘weapon of war’ and may be physical, sexual, psychological, economic, or socio-cultural in nature and be perpetrated in public or private settings. It is associated with increased instances of sexually transmitted infections such as HIV, unintended pregnancies, gynaecological problems, induced abortions, and adverse pregnancy outcomes including miscarriage, low birth weight, and foetal death. Women are often disempowered by exploitation, rape, the threat of rape, domestic violence, HIV infection, trauma, and disabilities resulting from violence. Literature on sexual violence in armed conflict indicates that rape and violence against women and girls prior to, during, and in the aftermath of conflict increases in scope and magnitude. This paper reports on an advocacy programme designed and conducted by Islamic Relief (IR) in Iraq to raise awareness about increasing VAWG against the changing backdrop of post-war Iraq. Through the lens of the programme, the paper explores the changing landscape of Iraqi society and how conflict has very markedly affected the status of Iraqi women negatively.