Twenty years ago, the U.S. invasion of Iraq unleashed a series of humanitarian tragedies that, combined with the effects of sanctions, set back women’s rights for decades. In the years since, women’s groups across the country have continued to work for progress, despite many obstacles. What is the situation for women in Iraq today? What are the challenges to implementing the Women, Peace, and Security agenda that would ensure women’s equal and meaningful participation in peace and security policy? And how might policymakers work with a variety of stakeholders in government, civil society, and the international community to support this agenda?

On International Women’s Day, the Keough School of Global Affairs explored these questions with a panel featuring leading Iraqi women scholars and policy advocates.