6/3/2019 Action Plan - Google Docs

Stage 1: The Outline

I. The objective of this project is to raise awareness of the stigmas and glass ceilings that

prevent women and girls in Iraq (and other North African and Middle Eastern nations)

from accessing peace and security. Educating people within those countries and abroad is

essential to the success of such a project. What these women need is unity, collaboration, and

guidance. This project aims to support these women so that together all women can incite a

change.

II. The community is vital to the success of this action. Changing social stigmas and stereotypes

can only be done with the support of society. One woman can make a difference, but one woman

cannot carry the weight of an entire movement for half of the population on her own. Unifying as

one, from our school to our country, would build a foundation of resources and connections for

women in Iraq, the Middle East, and even in the U.S. that can be used to create further change.

With the community’s help in spreading awareness, we can establish programs and organizations

that can be at ground zero in Iraq, fighting for change with politicians, legislation, and the locals.

We can raise funds to help send women and girls to school, kickstart a business, or build a political

campaign. A little bit of support--monetary or emotional--will be the spark that ignites the change.

III. Women, individual organizations, and governments are attacking this issue in many similar

ways, firmly believing the core of the resolution is in the people. Specifically, Iraq is already a

leading nation in acting against the discrimination of women. Their National Action Plans are

revolutionary frameworks for human rights, paving the way for more change (Van Buskirk). Iraq

has potential; the government is moving in the right direction by spreading awareness, revamping

laws to benefit human rights, and working with the UN to produce new resolutions like resolution

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2467, which intends to criminalize all sexual acts of violence (“Security Council”). However, the

success of the plans is only as great as the involvement of their people.

The issue of women’s peace and security has developed from centuries of stereotypes and

social expectations of men and women. The solution lies in changing the mindset of millions of

people, it lies in the hands of women who want to fulfill aspirations, and it lies in today’s

government and political leaders. Organizations such as the UN and the Iraqi government agree

that history must not repeat itself, that we must learn from our mistakes and change our actions in

the future. The details of how we approach this change may fluctuate between addressing laws

head-on and creating small organizations to provide women with protection and support from

discrimination and abuse, but each step is crucial to creating real change.

Stage 2: The Plan

IV. The action plan proposed below will consist of numerous steps in which all people can

participate. From high school to college students, this action plan has been developed with the goal

of establishing a community of strong and determined individuals who can be the voice for the

women who have been silenced and provide guidance to the women who are lost. This action plan

is also based off of prior research, such as the work of NGOs and the UN’s current fight for peace

and security for women in the Middle East.

Step Who What/Action When/Time Resources Communication

1 (Liberty) Students will establish a This action can Human: Students, at least School administrators will
High club dedicated to the occur when the one teacher advisor, school need to support this action and
School support of women’s students have an administration, and local accept the formation of this
Students leadership with a focus advisor, enough organizations club. The advisor will have to
in peace and security club members be willing to help reach out to
and areas such as (around 5 to Supplies: Posters to certain organizations if
human rights, 10). promote awareness, social needed. Students will take to
entrepreneurship, and media, a meeting area such social media, local

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victims of abuse. With as a classroom newspapers, and posters to

the support of the spread the word to the
school district, the club Capital: No money is community.
will participate in needed to begin this
fundraisers and spread action, but some funding
awareness in the will be needed (and
community. obtained) to continue the
work

2 (Liberty) The club will establish
High relationships and ties to
School local organizations and
Students political and law
enforcement leaders.
Students will volunteer
and educate themselves
and others about the
issue of women’s peace
and security.
This action can Human: Students, the School administrators must be
occur after the advisor, educators of this kept up to date with the
club is up and world issue, political and students’ plans. Students need
running and has law enforcement leaders to reach out to local politicians
established a such as the mayor, governor,
solid foundation Supplies : Posters to etc. and law enforcement such
of members, promote awareness, social as investigators who specialize
funds, and media, education resources in women’s needs. Students
community such as books, pamphlets, will continue to take to social
support. etc. media, local newspapers, and
posters to spread the word to
Capital: Begin with a
the community.
fundraising goal/ budget of
about $500; raise or lower
if needed

3 University With more When the high Human: The high school Politicians and professors will
and independence and school students students from step 1 and 2 need to be kept up to date by
College access to more domestic from step 1 and as well as other college the students, but they will also
Students and international 2 have students, professors and have to be understanding and
communication, college graduated, this administration, politicians supportive of the college
students, either action can occur student. Their relationships
independently or as a because they Supplies: Posters to with other people and
club, will reach out to would now promote awareness, social organizations will be crucial to
professors who have have a media, a meeting place the success of their efforts, so
experience with significant students will have to ask for
Capital: Through
women, peace, and amount of help and guidance in getting
fundraising and grant
security as well as experience that in contact with those
applications, the goal/
politicians. They will would be connections.
budget would be around
start a diplomatic beneficial in
$10,000 for travel,
campaign in which they leading another
communication, and other
will raise funds, spread group of
expenses
awareness, and address students.
the political aspect of
this issue more directly.

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4 University The college students This action Human: College student The college students and
and will plan a trip abroad would occur volunteers, advisors or advisors/ chaperones/
College to one or more countries after the “chaperones”, foreign professors would have to
Students in which this issue is students have connections, aids, or travel communicate with travel
prevalent. The countries established advisors agents and guides in the
would include Middle themselves and countries they wish to visit.
Eastern and North a dedicated Supplies: They would have to create a
African nations student Accommodations abroad plan with those people for
including Iraq. The trip organization and (food, shelter, travel) who they’d meet, talk to, and
would be at least one after they have volunteer with. Students
Capital: Through
week long; students developed would have to reach out to
fundraising and grant
may travel to several connections political leaders,
applications, the goal/
countries, speaking to abroad. organizations, and significant
budget would be around
political leaders, UN women to plan meetings and
$50,000 for travel and
representatives, and events. The individuals and
other expenses
leading women organizations within those
themselves. countries that the students
Additionally, the would be connecting with
students would would need to be contacted
participate in several before, during, and after the
volunteer opportunities. trip.

5 University The students will
and present their campaign
College and student
Students organization, the results
of their trips abroad,
and their current plan to
local governments such
as the state government
or even federal
government and/ or the
United Nations Security
Council/ United
Nations Women.
This action Human: College student The college students would
would occur speakers, advisors or have to reach out to the
after the “chaperones”, politicians government officials to
students’ initial and diplomats, UN request an interview or
trip abroad, Security Council members/ meeting to present their
either after advisors, UN Women information. The students
several months representatives would have to ensure that they
or after several communicate clearly before
supplemental Supplies: A planned and during the process to
trips. speech, appropriate make the most out of the
preparation including attire presentation. UN Security
and appearance Council and UN Women
representatives/ officials
Capital: Through
would need to be contacted.
fundraising and grant
Students could reach out to
applications, the goal/
specific people or
budget would be around
organizations from their trip
$15,000 for travel and
for direct quotes or
other expenses
appearances for their
presentation.

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Works Cited

“Security Council Adopts Resolution Calling upon Belligerents Worldwide to Adopt

Concrete Commitments on Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict | Meetings Coverage

and Press Releases.” United Nations, United Nations, 23 Apr. 2019,

www.un.org/press/en/2019/sc13790.doc.htm. Accessed 02 May 2019.

Van Buskirk, Lexie. “Case Study: When It Comes to NAPs, Iraq Leads the Way in MENA.” Our

Secure Future, Our Secure Future, 22 Oct. 2018,

oursecurefuture.org/blog/case-study-naps-iraq-lmena. Accessed 02 May 2019.

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