LocationsJoin us - Be an example of turning challenge into opportunity
October 27, 2025
By Sundus Abbas
Women Empowerment Specialist, Peace Pillar Lead OIC
UNDP Iraq
At a defining moment in the history of Iraq’s women’s movement, a group of Iraqi women activists—technically supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)—came together to strengthen their capacities as defenders of human and environmental rights. Yet this moment felt different: their aspirations are greater, their priorities deeper, and their determination stronger—matching the scale of the structural and cultural challenges they face, and the weight of the stereotypes and prejudices that too often question women’s roles.
At a time when women activists and leaders of civil society organizations are confronting unfounded accusations of inadequacy, unrealistic vision, and even unjustified hate speech and online bullying, a group of committed, confident Iraqi women have risen above the noise. Believing in the power of women to lead and create change, they launched—voluntarily and collectively—a national campaign calling on every Iraqi woman to take part in water conservation efforts to sustain life itself.
From cities and villages across Iraq, and from diverse communities and generations, these women gathered—perhaps for the first time—to reflect together on their shared priorities and roles. From this meeting emerged a new vision: the “Iraqiyat for a Sustainable Environment” Alliance, bringing together 36 women activists and civil society leaders united under one voice to reach out to all Iraqi women and girls. Their message is simple yet profound: through awareness and wise use, we nurture life and preserve water.
This alliance has become a national platform and a safe space for Iraqi women human-rights and environmental defenders, advancing women’s multifaceted roles—both public and private—in protecting the environment and managing natural resources for a sustainable Iraq. It highlights the essential role of Iraqi women in achieving sustainable development and building a resilient nation.
In October 2025, the alliance launched its national campaign with one united voice from all corners of Iraq, inviting every woman and girl to join and lead this national effort—in homes, schools, fields, factories, and institutions—toward more mindful water use in daily life. Because conservation is everyone’s responsibility: each drop of water is a chance for life, and preserving it is an act of love for our land and our children.
Janet met with three priests who oversee seven churches serving around 1,600 families. They warmly welcomed the initiative and took it upon themselves to raise awareness among their congregations about the importance of conserving water, delivering messages on water conservation during church sermons and encouraging all parishioners to use water responsibly in their homes and places of worship. Hanan began in Bashiqa’s schools, raising awareness among teachers and children—whose joyful participation became a symbol of hope. In Basra and Baghdad, Fatima, Iman, and Salwa formed volunteer teams to promote community awareness. Alya in Babel, Dr. Amira in Baghdad, and Dr. Buthaina in Diyala worked with housewives in their neighborhoods, encouraging practical, everyday habits that make a real difference.
Other activists reached out to mosques, taking the message from spiritual platforms into every Iraqi household. Ghusoon in Dhi Qar and Doaa in Anbar created educational materials and illustrations for girls, empowering them to become young leaders of the campaign. As for Sana’a in Wasit, she went to the women in her neighborhood carrying these messages.
In Diwaniyah, Dr. Maha and Feryal reached out to farmers, while Dr. Batool led awareness efforts in Najaf on the importance of using modern irrigation methods for crops and home gardens. Likewise, Balsam in Muthanna began cooperating with local NGOs to expand the campaign’s scope and reach out to a larger number of women, allowing the campaign to grow and achieve a wider impact. Samia is working with grandmothers in Sinjar, drawing on their wisdom and life experience to promote mindful and efficient water use. Likewise, Ikhlas in Maysan reached out to elderly women in both urban and rural areas to engage them in water conservation efforts. Smiles lit the faces of all these women as they realized how much wisdom and care they bring to protecting life’s most vital resource.
This message is clear: As long as our giving never run dry, neither should our water.
Join us - Be an example of turning challenge into opportunity, and let the voice of women lead the true environmental transformation in Iraq.
#SheWatersLife