The British Consulate General in Erbil is calling for the removal of barriers to women candidates, women who are constantly stigmatized and harassed, and Metro Center supports it.

On August 18th, in Erbil, Sewa Sirwan, Head of Communications at Metro Center, attended a workshop at the British Consulate General in Erbil.

The workshop focused on the role and protection of women in the upcoming Kurdistan parliamentary elections. Women's activists, political figures, and some international experts participated.

The workshop aims to promote greater coordination in strengthening women's political roles, providing practical tools and strategies to provide digital space for women and combat online harassment of women.

Andrew Bizley, British Consul General in Erbil, said: "The UK is proud to support women's participation in the political process in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, and we hope to continue our coordination with the High Council for Women and Development to protect women from harassment.

As the Kurdistan Region prepares for this important event, "a new initiative has been launched to address and remove the obstacles faced by women candidates, women who constantly face stigma and harassment,” the consulate said.

 The consulate says women candidates often face severe obstacles in their political journey. These obstacles "include attacks on their ability and appearance. Much of this is facilitated through social media platforms, where shadow accounts are widely used for harassment.

The British Consulate criticizes that "the response to this abuse has been inadequate, leading to a significant decline in the confidence of women candidates. Many feel they cannot effectively represent their communities and parties, reducing their influence in decision-making processes.

At the end of the event, Sewa Sirwan thanked Andrew Bizley, British Consul General in Erbil and expressed the support of Metro Center for the purpose of the event.