The European Union and Iraq deepened their strategic partnership by launching a new initiative to empower women in security and intelligence roles, as part of broader efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism.

Key Highlights from the Initiative:

• The program is part of the EU-funded CT-SRi (Counter-Terrorism Security and Resilience in Iraq) initiative, which supports Iraq’s national security institutions.
• A specialized training session was held in Baghdad, bringing together female intelligence officers, analysts, and security professionals from across Iraq.
• The training focused on data analysis, strategic foresight, and operational coordination, with an emphasis on integrating gender perspectives into counter-terrorism frameworks.
• EU experts and Iraqi officials jointly led sessions on threat assessment, inter-agency collaboration, and community-based intelligence gathering.

This marks a significant step in recognizing the critical role women play in national security, especially in post-conflict and high-risk environments. By equipping female officers with advanced tools and methodologies, the EU and Iraq aim to foster more inclusive, resilient, and effective counter-terrorism systems.

The initiative also aligns with the EU’s commitment to gender equality in peace and security, as outlined in its Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda. Iraqi officials praised the program for enhancing institutional capacity and promoting long-term stability.