Navigating Peace and Security: Women and Social Capital in Iraq

This article examines international, national and local interpretations of women's engagement in peace and security processes. In 2000, the international community formally recognized the importance of women's equal participation in maintaining and promoting peace and security via UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325). National governments subsequently enacted National Action Plans to pursue the goals of UNSCR 1325, including one established in Iraq in 2014. Iraq's National Action Plan prioritizes the reform of legal and political institutions, and this article seeks to understand whether this approach resonates with Iraqi women. Based on fieldwork conducted in northern Diyala, it examines how Iraqi women perceive, access and exert influence over peace and security mechanisms, and how their approach compares with the strategies identified by the National Action Plan and UNSCR 1325.