Suzan Aref is a Human rights and civil society activist, founder, and director of Women Empowerment Organization since 2004. She is the Coordinator of the Iraqi cross-sector task force (CSTF) 1325 on Women, Peace and Security Agenda (2014-2019). She represented Iraq during her presence in the Security Council twice in a row in 2018 and 2019, to present women's situation and the progress made in implementing the First National Action Plan of UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Ms. Aref was selected by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights among 30 human rights defenders in the Middle East and North Africa and was nominated internationally as one of the world's most creative women in 2020 for her efforts that stand out for diversity and gender equality. She is the Coordinator of the Alliance 1325 (a large group of civil society organizations at the level of Iraq, which had a pioneering role in developing the first national action plan in Iraq) and Member of regional and international networks, and holds many certificates of appreciation and honors at both national and international levels, with extensive experience in women's issues (including gender equality, empowerment, advocacy, and gender mainstreaming in policies and national plans). She is also a Consultant for several national and international agencies in the region.