JISRA Alliance Concludes Its Consultative Conference on "Building Bridges, Not Walls: A Collaborative Effort to Protect Religious Diversity"
Erbil, December 5, 2024
The conference brought together a group of experts, representatives of civil society organizations, and key stakeholders in the field of human rights and religious diversity protection. Participants discussed tools and methodologies that contribute to enhancing the rights of religious groups in Iraq and the collaboration between different parties to achieve this goal.
A highlight of the conference was the participation of Ms. Suzan Aref, Director and founder of Women Empowerment Organization (WEO), in a main panel session that focused on the role of women in promoting religious diversity and protecting religious rights. Ms. Suzan emphasized the importance of empowering women and marginalized groups to defend their rights, noting that religious diversity is a key element for social peace in Iraq.
Key Outcomes of the Conference:
• Reaffirming the importance of protecting religious rights and fostering interfaith dialogue to achieve mutual understanding.
• Practical recommendations to empower marginalized groups, especially women, to participate in decision-making regarding religious diversity.
• Strengthening cooperation among stakeholders to take tangible steps in protecting the rights of religious communities.
This conference was part of the JISRA project activities, which involves a partnership between a range of organizations, including Women Empowerment Organization (WEO), Search for Common Ground, MMM, Tearfund, Peace and Freedom Organization (PFO) and Humanitarian Association.
