Advancing Women’s Rights in Iraq: A Productive Meeting on the SAWA Project

On August 18, 2025, as part of our ongoing commitment to advancing women’s rights in Iraq, Mercy Path for Women’s Affairs held a productive meeting with Ms. Enas Abd Al-Mohsen, Director of the Women, Family, and Child Department in Baghdad Governorate.

Ms. Enas Abd Al-Mohsen (center), Director of the Women, Family, and Child Department in the Baghdad Governorate.

The discussion centered on the progress of our new project, Strengthening Agencies for Women’s Advancement (SAWA). Together, we reviewed the details of our nationwide research study assessing the operational capacity of the Women, Family, and Child Department. Ms. Abd Al-Mohsen provided invaluable feedback that will help us refine our study to better meet the department’s needs and ensure the outcomes are both practical and impactful.

Representing Mercy Path at the meeting was Ms. Sura Al Zahid (center), Research Assistant for the SAWA Project.

The findings from this research will serve as the foundation for our upcoming hybrid training programs, designed specifically for department staff. These programs will blend online learning modules, in-person workshops, mentorship, and hands-on interventions. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the department’s operational capacity while advancing its mission of promoting women’s rights and fostering gender equality at both local and national levels.

We extend our sincere thanks to Ms. Enas Abd Al-Mohsen for her continued support and collaboration. We are excited to move forward with the next steps of the SAWA Project—stay tuned for more updates!

This project is implemented by Mercy Path for Women’s Affairs with funding from Women for Women International (WfWI), supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO).