Women journalists in Kurdistan Region: Femicide should be prevented
Women journalists in the Federal Kurdistan Region stated that women should be more involved in social work in order to prevent the killing of women and raise awareness.
TERZE TEHA
Sulaymaniyah - Although women in the Federal Kurdistan Region took many responsibilities to empower women in 2021, there are no significant changes in the region this year compared to previous years. Layla Omar, the first woman deputy governor of Sulaymaniyah, is one of the women working to empower women. She currently serves as the mayor of Sulaimani municipality. She has carried out many activities in the city of Duhok to prevent femicide. However, many femicide and violence against women incidents were reported in the city last year. The killing of Zehra, mother of two, by her two brothers in Erbil’s Badewi neighborhood sparked anger among people. We spoke to women journalists working in the region about the increasing number of femicide and violence against women incidents and how they can be prevented.
“Women must fight for their rights”
Journalist Şine Baba Elî, a member of the Metro Center for Journalists' Rights and Advocacy in Erbil, stated that many women were killed in 2021 although women took many responsibilities to empower women. “Unfortunately, the number of femicides increased. Femicide should be prevented. Women can prevent femicide if they unite. Women should fight for their rights and do their best for their visibility. For instance, women journalists work hard in the field, but their work is invisible. They face serious injustices,” she told NuJINHA.
“The government should develop projects for women”
Journalist Tirê Mehmûd said that thousands of women were subjected to violence in 2021. “Women should unite to stop violence against them because they have great mental and physical strength. More women should participate in politics and social life. They want to silence women, but women should use their strength against this. The judiciary must do its part in this regard. NGOs, activists, and journalists can pressure the Kurdistan Parliament to stop femicide and violence against women. Women have to struggle to make their own decisions, and the government must develop projects to support women.”