Shiya Koyi

Koya- Activites of the 16 Days of Activism to end violence Against Women campaign continue amid growing calls to strengthen community awareness and promote a culture r of rights and equality. The campaign is held annually to highlight the dangers of violence and to intensify joint efforts to put an end to this phenomenon that threatens the stability and progress of societies.

As part of the campaign’s events, the Zagros Committee, in cooperation with the Koya Cultural Organization, organized a discussion seminar with the participation of university lecturer Besaida Haidar Noor and lawyer and human rights activist Kunira Luqman Khurshid, attended by a number of local women. The seminar addressed issues related to the reality of women’s lives and ways to strengthen their role in confronting violence, forming a space for discussion and the exchange of views on awareness mechanisms and community support.

Human rights activist Kunira Luqman Khurshid stated that violence exists in all societies, whether organized or visible, noting that authorities are often a cause of its escalation. She added, “Legal amendments in the Kurdistan Region have contributed to reducing violence and have provided greater space for women’s empowerment.”

Regarding violence against women, Kurdistan Mohammed, a teacher at the Sports Institute in Koya, confirmed that patterns of violence continue to change. She explained that one of the most prominent current forms is violence linked to technology and virtual social networks. She also pointed out another form of violence represented by limited job opportunities for women, especially under difficult economic conditions that force many to work to secure a living.

For her part, Aska Jaafar, Head of the Zagros Committee, stated that the committee launched its activities under the 16 Days of Activism campaign on November 25, and in cooperation with the Koya Cultural Organization, a women-focused seminar was organized as part of the campaign’s events.

On current forms of violence and how to identify them, she stressed that cases recorded in violence offices do not reflect the full picture. There are hidden forms of violence inside homes and families, often practiced by relatives, where women are viewed as commodities or mere necessities. She emphasized that such meetings and seminars are essential to raising women’s awareness and strengthening their ability to confront all forms of violence.