I am a widow
24 augustus 2020 | by PAX
Physically I may be alive, but I am dead on the inside. I felt more fulfilled and happier when my
Many women and girls in Iraq face various forms of sexual and gender-based violence, which are worsened as a result of armed conflicts and political instability. PAX partner Impunity Watch, Al-Amal Association and the Al-Firdaws Society have been gathering stories from women and girls who dare to speak out, stories about fighting back against sexual and gender based violence. We are publishing some of these stories in this blog series. These stories are shocking, and are difficult to read.
The stories have been gathered and are being retold as part of an effort to break the ‘culture of silence’ around violence against women and lessen the stigma of being a victim. And, of course, to try to improve the government’s and the security sector’s response to such violence. The Dutch NGO Impunity Watch has coordinated efforts to collect and present these stories.
Names and some details have been fabricated to protect the identities of the people involved.
24 augustus 2020 | by PAX
Physically I may be alive, but I am dead on the inside. I felt more fulfilled and happier when my
17 augustus 2020 | by PAX webmaster
I remember what happened to me as if it was yesterday. I was raised in a home riddled with problems.
10 augustus 2020 | by PAX
My struggle began when I got a job at a local organization in Kirkuk. Two months later, while working enthusiastically
4 augustus 2020 | by PAX
My family, my friends and I used to have a happy life. We traveled together and lived freely.
27 juli 2020 | by PAX
Before I got married, I used to live with my parents, my sister and my two brothers. Although my father
20 juli 2020 | by PAX
My life was full of my smiling friends, my school activities, our family time, and the support my family gave
13 juli 2020 | by PAX
I was raised at my grandmother’s house where I grew up, lacking a mother’s tenderness and a father’s advice. My
6 juli 2020 | by PAX
I lost my father to a terminal illness when I was fourteen years old. His death affected various aspects of
29 juni 2020 | by PAX
Education was not one of the main priorities for our family. I dropped out of school after finishing primary school,
24 juni 2020 | by PAX
My father forced me to marry a married man because he could no longer provide for me. Soon enough, my