The Second Syrian Women’s Rights Civil Society Conference, titled “Implementing the Common Agenda to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls and Promote Inclusive Peacebuilding in Syria,” was held on 24–25 June 2025 in Brussels. The conference was organised within the framework of the project “Implementing the Common Agenda to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls and Promote Inclusive Peacebuilding Processes in Syria,” implemented by EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) in partnership with Musawa, Dawlaty, and Zoom In, and funded by the European Union. The event convened more than 60 Syrian and international stakeholders, including representatives from the European Union, the European Parliament, the Office of the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Syria, and various international organisations. Participants reaffirmed the central role of women and women’s rights in Syria’s reconstruction and in advancing a democratic, peaceful, and equal future.

The Second Regional Forum “Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda” took place on 3–4 February 2026 in Beirut, organised by the National Commission for Lebanese Women (NCLW) and EuroMed Feminist Initiative. The Forum was held within the framework of the regional project “Strengthening Feminist Civil Society Organisations for the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine,” funded by the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.

This publication presents key lessons learned, best practices, and recommendations for advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA) in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, based on the outcomes of the Regional Forum held in Amman on 6–7 May 2025 and convened by EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) with feminist and women-led civil society organisations. It highlights the role of feminist civil society in strengthening accountability and inclusive policymaking, and offers actionable recommendations to support rights-based and sustainable implementation of the WPSA across local, national, regional, and international levels.

The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence, drivers and manifestations of VAWG, to identify legal, institutional and service gaps and provide evidence-based recommendations for policymakers to formulate informed policies and targeted interventions to combat VAWG, and to civil society and international partners to foster the development of these policies and interventions. It contributes to the analytical and monitoring work of the Regional Observatory on Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG), hosted by EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), by generating country-level evidence to support regional advocacy and policy dialogue. This study is supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) as part of the programme “Strengthening Participation, Peaceful Coexistence and Equality in Iraq” (SPACE), funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

This fact sheet presents key findings from the 2025 National Assessment on VAWG in Iraq and the KR-I, conducted by the Regional Observatory on VAWG at EuroMed Feminist Initiative. It highlights the prevalence, drivers, and forms of violence; access to services; legal and policy frameworks; and provides evidence-based recommendations to support national strategies for prevention, protection, and response.

Violence against women and girls is a complex and deeply rooted issue influenced by social, cultural, legal, and political factors. The persistence of discriminatory laws and prevailing social norms continues to limit women’s rights and freedoms. Many forms of violence — including domestic violence, early and forced marriage, sexual harassment, and economic violence — are widespread and often go underreported. This policy brief aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current situation of violence against women and girls in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KR-I), highlighting the legal and policy frameworks, identifying existing gaps, and offering practical recommendations to strengthen prevention, protection, and response mechanisms. It draws on evidence from national data, civil society reports, and international standards to support decision-makers and stakeholders in promoting equality and combating violence.

EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) organized a study visit to Tunis from 25 to 27 November 2025 for Algerian association representatives and experts, as part of an exchange of experiences and best practices aimed at supporting women’s economic participation in Algeria. Adopting a comparative and regional perspective, this study visit aimed to foster knowledge exchange by enabling participants to draw on the best practices and lessons learned by Tunisian civil society organizations (CSOs) in implementing strategies and mechanisms to strengthen and promote women’s economic participation and employability. It also sought to enhance participants’ capacities in advocacy, feminist leadership, and regional cooperation.

EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), organised the regional meeting “Enhancing Women’s Participation in Peace-Making in Syria and Iraq: Lessons Learned from Implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA) in the MENA Region”. Held in Amman, Jordan from 8 to 10 October 2025, the event brought together women’s rights activists, civil society leaders, and experts from across the region to exchange experiences and lessons learned in advancing women’s participation in peacebuilding and political processes.

EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), in partnership with Duderi, held the second phase of its three-phase capacity-building programme for dialogue facilitation and policy engagement under the title “Navigating Dialogue in Divided Societies” as part of the project “Building a shared vision of citizenship: Promoting diversity and social inclusion in Syria’s transition project”. The three-day training brought together Syrian experts to strengthen their skills in leading inclusive, community-based dialogues that contribute to Syria’s peaceful transition.

This year, the world marks the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security: a landmark resolution that recognised the distinct impact of armed conflict on women and men, and affirmed the central role of women in building a lasting and sustaining peace. Against the backdrop of today’s complex regional and global challenges—ranging from protracted armed conflicts to humanitarian crises and growing threats to security—the call for women’s participation in peace negotiations and security arrangements is more urgent than ever.

Post-conflict reconstruction renews Syria’s social, economic, and political structures to end chaos, restore stability, and prevent future conflict. EFI (EuroMed Feminist Initiative) developed this handbook with Syrian experts to ensure women’s participation, address GBV, and embed gender equality across all reconstruction stages. It offers systematic guidance and actionable recommendations for decision-makers, donors, and civil society to guide Syria’s transition toward democracy and sustainable development.

The First Regional Forum “Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA),” organised under the patronage of H.E. Ms Wafaa Bani Mostafa, Jordan’s Minister of Social Development and the Head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, was held on 6-7 May 2025 in Amman, Jordan, aiming to advance the WPSA in the region. It took place within the framework of the regional project Strengthening Feminist CSOs for the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine, implemented by EuroMed Feminist initiative and funded by the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The Forum was organised by EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) in partnership with the consortium of EFI member organisations: Arab Women Organization (AWO) in Jordan, Association Najdeh in Lebanon, Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) in Iraq and the Palestinian Working Women Society for Development (PWWSD) in Palestine.

From the 2nd to 4th of September 2025, EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) and partner organisation Duderi held a training on “Foundations of Inclusive Dialogue Facilitation” in Athens, Greece, as part of a three-phase capacity programme for dialogue facilitation and policy engagement. The training was organised within the framework of the regional project “Building a Shared Vision of Citizenship: Promoting Diversity and Social Inclusion in Syria’s Transition Project” which aims to strengthen the capacity of Syrian civil society actors to lead structured inclusive, locally led dialogues and ensure that their outcomes are connected to broader political processes and policy discussions.

The conference provided a timely platform for representatives from over 35 Syrian women’s rights and human rights civil society organisations to collectively articulate their vision for reinforcing women´s participation and women´s rights at all levels of the reconstruction process in and for Syria: one grounded in gender equality, accountability, and equal citizenship and civic peace. The discussions were anchored in years of grassroots mobilisation, accumulation of legal and social expertise, and the ongoing implementation of the Common Agenda to Combat Violence Against Women and Girls as a Main Barrier to Women´s Participation (The Common Agenda) developed in consultations with over 250 actors across Syria in the frame of the same project.

EuroMed Feminist Initiative join our voices to those demanding an immediate return to international law, the only path to finally ending the ongoing carnage and the forced displacement of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), under the patronage of H.E. Ms. Wafaa Bani Mostafa, Jordan’s Minister of Social Development and the Head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Women’s Empowerment, held the first Regional Forum, “Advancing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPSA),” on 6-7 May 2025 in Amman, Jordan. The event was organised within the framework of the regional project “Strengthening Feminist CSOs for the Implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and Palestine,” funded by the Support Fund for Feminist Organisations of the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The project is implemented in partnership with EFI member organisations in the four countries.

Under the patronage of His Excellency, Chairman of the Karak Governorate Council, Dr. Abdullah Al-Abbadlah, the local dialogue aimed to create an open and inclusive space for community members and leaders, service providers, and civil society to come together and engage in meaningful discussions on preventing violence and promoting survivor-centred services across Jordan. It served as a platform for fostering proactive community efforts and raising awareness about the availability of essential services for survivors of gender-based violence, as a key approach to preventing violence against women and girls.

The local dialogue, held in Zarqa and organised by the EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), provided an inclusive platform for community members, service providers, and institutional representatives to engage in constructive conversations on preventing violence against women and girls. It aimed to strengthen community awareness around available survivor-centred services and reinforce the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing gender-based violence. The dialogue encouraged open exchange, challenged harmful social norms, and highlighted the critical role of local actors in building safer and more responsive environments for women and girls across Jordan.

The local dialogue, organised by the EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI), aimed to create open and inclusive space for community members and leaders, service providers, and civil society to come together and engage in meaningful discussions on preventing violence and promoting survivor-centered services across Jordan. It served as a platform to foster proactive community efforts and raise awareness about the availability of essential services for survivors of gender-based violence as one of the means to prevent violence against women and girls.