In collaboration with The Station and Makers, the American Space at the American University of Iraq-Baghdad (AUIB) organized a women’s handcrafts exhibition and a discussion panel under the title, “Unite to End Violence against Women,” attended by members of AUIB community and guests. The event was part of the annual international campaign launched by UN Women, “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence,” which ran from the 25th of November, marking the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women,” to the “Human Rights Day” on the 10th of December.
AUIB’s Chief Communications Officer and Public Affairs Advisor, Ms. Alicia Holland, moderated a discussion with the university’s five women deans: Dean of the College of Education and Human Development, Dr. Allison Webster-Giddings, Dean of the College of International Studies, Dr. Elizabeth Bishop, Dean of the College of Dentistry, Dr. Nada Naaman, Dean of the College of Business, Dr. Kate O’Neill, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Monica Hanna. The discussion which engaged eager members of the audience shed light on various subjects under the general theme of women empowerment.
Dr. Naaman highlighted “support by men,” whether colleagues or family members, as an important source of strength in her life, whereas Dr. Webster-Giddings spoke of taking up the habit of “stepping into the unknown” as a source of self-empowerment and advancement. The panel discussed the role higher education plays in the empowerment of women. Dr. O’Neill saw that higher education allows women “self-determination,” while Dr. Bishop pointed out United Nations’ statistics showing a strong correlation between higher education, on one hand, and better health and longevity, on the other.