As part of its awareness activities aimed at promoting human rights and rejecting extremism, the Human Rights Unit at the College of Engineering – University of Baghdad organized a workshop titled “Violence Against Women as a Form of Behavioral and Intellectual Extremism” on Monday, October 27, 2025.
The workshop was presented by Dr. Shahad Ghalib Ali, faculty member at the College of Political Science, Al-Mustansiriyah University, and Director of the “Taa” Project at the Rawaq Baghdad Center, alongside Dr. Israa Abd Ali Kazem, Director of the Human Rights Unit at the College of Engineering – University of Baghdad.
The workshop aimed to discuss violence against women as a manifestation of intellectual and behavioral extremism, highlighting its social and ideological roots and raising awareness about the dangers of discourses that justify or legitimize violence against women.
The workshop included two main sessions:
In the first session, Dr. Shahad Ghalib Ali addressed violence against women as a product of social and ideological patterns based on discrimination and inequality, emphasizing that addressing this phenomenon requires raising awareness, correcting misconceptions, and promoting a culture of equality. She also stressed the role of academic and media institutions in combating extremism directed toward women.
In the second session, Dr. Israa Abd Ali Kazem discussed the role of education in countering extremist thought from intellectual, social, and human rights perspectives. She highlighted the importance of promoting a culture of tolerance, equality, and women’s empowerment as tools to confront extremist ideologies.
The workshop concluded with several recommendations focused on enhancing awareness of women’s rights, combating violence, and engaging educational and media institutions in spreading moderate discourse, in addition to supporting women’s participation in addressing intellectual and behavioral extremism.
This workshop reflects the College of Engineering’s commitment to fostering the values of tolerance, moderation, and human rights awareness within the university community, contributing to the building of a more just and conscious society.
