In the Words of Dr Thawra Yousif: “My journey expanded beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community”

Dr. Thawra Yousif is a former teacher at the Department of Theatrical Arts at Al Basra University, is now deputy director of Lotus Cultural Women’s League and a member of the Regional Network for Development and Combating Racism in the Middle East and North Africa. Today, she also serves as a proud member of Iraq’s National Women Mediators Network - a groundbreaking platform redefining women’s role in peacebuilding and social cohesion.

With the generous support of the Government of Finland, UN Women, in partnership with the National Directorate for Iraqi Women (NDIW), launched in August 2024 the process of establishing Iraq’s first National Women Mediators Network. Part of its Regional Programme “Women, Peace, and Security in the Arab States III,”this landmark initiative reflects UN Women’s broader commitment to strengthening women’s participation in conflict prevention and peacebuilding at both community and national levels.

From a pool of 150 potential mediators across 15 governorates in Iraq, 100 women were selected to participate in regional workshops, where they built core skills in mediation and dialogue facilitation. Ultimately, 30 exceptional women – including Dr. Thawra – were chosen to serve as key mediators in their communities. Through advanced workshops held in Baghdad, Erbil, and Basra, UN Women, in collaboration with NDIW and the High Council for Women’s Development (HCWD), equipped mediators with negotiation strategies, emotional intelligence tools, stress management techniques, and practical skills for foresting social cohesion and women’s political participation

“Through the workshops, I developed essential negotiation skills—learning how to facilitate dialogue between conflicting parties and guide them toward compromise without bias. I learned to stay objective, listen actively, and ensure that all voices are heard. Our simulation exercises made me realize that harmony and coordination among mediation team members are crucial to achieving sustainable solutions.”

For Dr. Thawra, joining the Network marked a personal turning point.

“Throughout my career in academia, I was primarily engaged with students and fellow educators. What is unique about joining the Network is that it opened a door for me to connect with other segments of the local community. I began to understand the real-life struggles people face and contribute meaningfully to addressing them. My journey expanded beyond the classroom and into the heart of the community.”

One of her most impactful initiatives was the “Pollution and Cancer Attack Nahran Omar” initiative in Basra Governorate, where local communities suffer devastating levels of pollution from ongoing oil extraction. Together with environmental activists and humanitarian groups, she mobilized communities around cancer awareness, early detection, and access to psychological support. The initiative partnered with local hospitals - including Al Thaqlayn Oncology Hospital, Ports General Hospital, and Ibn Ghazwan Hospital – to provide free screening services especially for women at high risk of breast and uterine cancer, and men vulnerable to colon and prostate cancer.

In one particular powerful moment, a lecture was delivered by a cancer survivor who inspired patients with her story of resilience:

“Despite many attendees being in the late stages of cancer, the session offered them what medicine alone often cannot—hope and human connection. As community activists, our presence created a sense of solidarity that made the psychological support more effective.”

One cancer patient told Dr Thawra afterward, “This session was equivalent to a round of chemotherapy”- a reminder that healing begins not only in hospitals, but in hearts, and in the power of a community and robust social cohesion that women can shape.

Dr. Thawra’s story demonstrates how UN Women is redefining peacebuilding in Iraq and across the Arab States by placing women at the center of mediation, dialogue, and conflict prevention. Through the establishment of the National Women Mediators Network, UN Women is equipping women with the skills and platforms they need to tackle pressing community challenges while fostering social cohesion that bridges national policies with local realities. This pioneering initiative is not only shaping the future of peacebuilding in Iraq, but also amplifying women’s voices as powerful drivers of resilience, healing, and lasting social transformation.