12 December 2022; Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Federal Ministry of Environment, the Kurdistan Region’s Board of Environment, Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), Kurdistan Region Statistical Office (KRSO), and UNFPA organised a workshop on 11-12 December in Erbil on the impacts of climate change on women and girls and how to design durable solutions to enable people and communities to adapt.

In 2021, UNFPA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning, Central Statistical Office, and Kurdistan Region’s Statistic Office, launched the results of the Iraqi Women Integrated Social and Health Survey II, which offered integrated data showing the change in women's economic and social status in Iraq since 2011. Following the I-WISH-II Survey, UNFPA, with the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Planning, will conduct a rapid study on the impacts of climate change on the lives of women and girls in Iraq.

To prepare for this study, UNFPA organised a consultative workshop attended by relevant stakeholders in both governments, the private sector, civil society organisations, and youth activists to brainstorm on designing the structure of a study. The objective is to ensure that national climate policies incorporate novel solutions and opinions from different groups of people to empower women and girls and include sexual and reproductive health and rights issues. 

Speaking at the event, Dr Dhiyaa Khadim Awad, the chairman of CSO at the Federal Government, stated and reiterated the importance of people-centric policies and said that: “we hope that this workshop will come up with a raw outline for the upcoming thematic study, which is anticipated to be conducted in 2023 and will be based on qualitative research aimed at various sectors with a particular focus on choices of empowering women and girls to deal with climate change.” 

For her part, Ms Lamees Muneef, Head of the Gender Unit at the Ministry of Environment, highlighted the role played by the Ministry of Environment in reducing the adverse effects of climate change on people in general, women, and children, and said that: “we are pleased to present our work and role at this workshop, particularly in light of the COP27 conference that took place in Egypt. We amplify our commitment to empowering women and are prepared to collaborate on this study with the Ministry of Planning and UNFPA.”

The Kurdistan Region Statistic Office representative also emphasized the significance of this study and noted that the data and findings from it must serve as a significant foundation for developing national plans and strategies.

Mr Garik Hayrapetyan, UNFPA Deputy Representative to Iraq, during the workshop reiterated that the workshop supports a multi-sectoral approach to accelerate climate actions and said that “developing a national strategy to identify the potential opportunities and existing gaps is urgently needed to avoid massive displacement and wasting natural resources.” 

The government representatives, the private sector, CSOs, and youth activists contributed to the discussion over the upcoming study. They expressed interest in being part of the study and advocating for improving legislation, policies, and programmes around climate change.

The impacts of climate change affect us all. The time to act is now. Let’s work together to find long-lasting solutions to help people and communities adapt to climate change and ensure that livelihoods are protected. 

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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

For more information or media inquiries, please contact: Kinda Katranji, Communications Specialist, at katranji@unfpa.org