On 15 December in Dohuk and 18 December in Erbil, private-sector companies across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq took concrete steps toward building safer, more ethical, and more inclusive workplaces for women.
Rather than focusing solely on compliance, these workshops emphasized meaningful change—strengthening accountability, preventing harassment and exploitation, and expanding women’s meaningful participation in the workplace.
The sessions supported company leadership and staff to move beyond policies on paper toward the practical application of core principles, including prevention, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Codes of Conduct, anti-harassment mechanisms, and inclusive workplace practices. These efforts directly address the structural barriers that continue to limit women’s safety, dignity, and equal opportunities in the private sector.
In Dohuk, the workshop was conducted with the active presence and support of key institutional actors, reflecting strong cross-sector commitment. Participants included:
- Mr. Shukri Nori, Head of the Dohuk Chamber of Commerce
- Mr. Kawa Abdulaziz, Head of the Economist Syndicate
- Mr. Azad Hussain, Director of the Social Security Directorate in Dohuk
- Mr. Nashwan, Director of the General Commercial Control Directorate in Dohuk
- Mr. Samyan Birwari, Representative of GIZ SPACE
- Mr. Paolo Lubrano, International Rescue Committee Country Director
alongside representatives from participating companies. Their engagement reinforced the importance of aligning company practices with national labor standards and protection frameworks.
In Erbil, the workshop was held under the leadership and participation of: - Ms. Chro Xan, Head of Programs and Secretary of the High Council of Women and Development in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq
- Dr. Abdulwahid Taha, Representative of the Erbil Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Ms. Kazho Latif, Representative of GIZ SPACE
- Mr. Paolo Lubrano, International Rescue Committee Country Director
In addition, representatives from government entities, companies, and the private sector participated, highlighting the institutional commitment to addressing discrimination and advancing women’s rights within the private sector.
These workshops are part of a broader process that culminated in the formal recognition of participating companies’ commitments to ethical workplace standards and women’s participation.
This project was implemented by HOC in partnership with IRC as part of SPACE. SPACE is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
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