Women leaders from Sinjar, Tal Afar, Baaj, Mosul, Telkayf, Bashiqa, Alqosh, and other districts of Ninewa, representing its diverse and rich ethnic and religious landscape, gathered to strengthen their role as peacebuilders and in community resilience. The workshop focused on building a foundational understanding of peace and conflict dynamics, as well as the root causes of radicalization and violent extremism, with the aim of promoting non-violence and inclusive peacebuilding processes. In addition to knowledge-building, the workshop offered a safe space for participants to discuss the challenges and conflicts affecting women in their communities. Together, they explored community-based strategies to counter violent extremism - affirming the crucial role women play in shaping peaceful, cohesive societies.
In the video below, you will get to learn about the workshop's contents as well as its importance for the women and their communities.
As one of the participants put it: The workshop changed the way we look at each other and also reinforced our understanding on peacebuilding, especially given that all the participants are women. The role of women is very important in such workshops because in this community women are responsible for educating children at home, who are the future of society. We have the role to build the resilience of our children so they are not influenced by hate speech, and fall into the division and tensions between people. We need to start at schools, with friends, with all communities, all religions. If we educate women in peacebuilding we will influence lots of people around. Women are half of our society; we are responsible for educating the other half.
The sisterhood spirit during these three days was the most significant achievement and the basis of strong and lasting relationships and collaboration towards peace. Despite the historical grievances, division and mistrust caused by years of severe cycles of violence, all participants were one, recognizing each other in their pain and suffering. As one of them mentioned to all, but specifically to her Christian and Yazidi colleagues:
The people who hurt you hurt us. We are sisters. Please don’t go.
Similarly, one participant said: "I was so happy to be among this inspiring female force that represents Ninewa with all its hope and challenges. Fields striving with all their might to achieve the impossible in order to build a weary society and work to heal the wounds of its people. No matter how different we are, and no matter how much we've been hurt or wounded, our goal remains the same: peace, security, construction, and rights."