Wadi is proud to announce that our long term partner NWE Organisation has had repeated success in winning prestigious international awards recognizing its impactful work in the field of women’s rights and fighting Female Genital Mutilation. The organization has been honored with top prizes in both in 2020, 2023 and now again for its work in 2024, highlighting its consistent dedication and significant contributions to the issue of women’s rights.
In 2023, the Director of NWE Organization received the . This award was presented by the Arab Women’s Center for Training and Research (CAWTAR) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Global Region.
More recently, in 2024, the organization achieved further recognition by securing the top position in the World Prize for Women’s Rights and Combating Female Genital Mutilation. This accolade was awarded by Center of Arab Women for Training and Research (CAWTAR) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Arab World Region:
“NWE Organization from Kurdistan, Iraq , led a 10-year awareness campaign that brought together religious leaders, doctors, activists, and the local community. Their efforts reached thousands of people through radio and social media , creating significant shifts in societal attitudes!
The organization also received an award in 2020 by the Kawthar Arab Women Center for Training and Research and the International Federation for Family Organizing – Arab World Region.
These awards are but a small recognition of the excellent and ongoing longterm work that the NWE Organization’s has been engaging in for the past decade always working on advancing women’s rights and combating Female Genital Mutilation. The organization expresses deep gratitude to the organizers of these competitions, as well as to the numerous organizations and individuals who have provided support throughout the years.
“We are happy with this award and it will encourage us more to continue working in the field of women’s rights and serving our community and country.” — Hero Ahmed NWE Director and Award recipient
The New Organization extends its sincere thanks to all who have contributed to its success, including partner organizations and individual supporters.
About Wadi’s approach on FGM:
Wadi in partnership with local partners including NWE has been working in Kurdistan to combat Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) since 2005. The work has seen several different forms including our successful Campaign to pass a law banning the practice in 2012 and our ongoing ‘STOP FGM Kurdistan’ campaign. The past several years the project focused on both prevention and support. In areas like Rania and Halabja, awareness campaigns were conducted to prevent FGM, while the “Living with FGM” program offers psychosocial support and coping mechanisms to survivors in areas with lower prevalence through seminars, self-help groups, and medical sessions. Crucially, the project aims to shift cultural norms by addressing deep-rooted stereotypes and misconceptions surrounding FGM, such as the association of uncut women with being “unclean” and differing views on female sexuality. Interactive seminars challenged the perception of FGM as a religious requirement, framing it as gender-based violence. Hundreds directly benefited through increased awareness of FGM’s harm, improved knowledge of women’s health and legal rights, and open community discussions facilitated by media engagement. For more on our FGM work please click here.
About NWE Organization:
NWE Organization is a non-governmental organization, its mission is to dedicate gender equality and the empowerment of women and to protect and improve the environment as a valuable asset in our country through implementing sustainable development projects.
NWE organization’s strategic goals are to empower women and girls to engage them socially and economically, improving their talents and fulfill their potentials. All women and girls deserve an equal future; live a life free from all forms of violence that is sustainable, peaceful, with equal rights and opportunities for all.
NWE organization’s Headquarters is based in Halabja. It officially launched its activities in October 2012 to conduct projects and activities in Halabja governorate its four main sectors of Women, environment, media and vulnerable groups. NWE is longtime partner of Wadi.
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