Erbil to host historic street gallery celebrating achievements of Kurdistani women

“Every youth, whether a boy or a girl, should have the right to be educated in the accomplishments of half the population.”

ERBIL (Kurdistan 24) – The Kurdistan Region capital of Erbil will host a street gallery next week to celebrate the historic achievements of Kurdistani women at home and abroad.

The event, a first of its kind in Kurdistan, is called the “100 Women Street Gallery,” and will take place on April 16 at the famous Erbil Citadel.

A diverse group of female artists, academics, humanitarians, entrepreneurs, politicians, and athletes from the ranks of both contemporary and historical Kurdistani and Iraqi women are among those who will be recognized at the event.

The initiative was launched by the international group, Female Voices of the World (FVW), with support from the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Erbil, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and co-sponsored by Re:Coded, which trains conflict-affected youth "to become technology leaders."

FVW’s founder, Kurdish artist and humanitarian activist Dashni Morad, says the group is “doing something that has never been done before.”

“Every youth, whether a boy or a girl, should have the right to be educated in the accomplishments of half the population,” she said in a statement Kurdistan 24 received.

“The women we chose for the 100 Women Street Gallery are just as interesting and relevant for men as for women, and we cannot wait to see how people respond to the affirmational and inspiring spirit of the exhibition.”

After the event closes, FVW plans to tour its exhibition across various locations around the Kurdistan Region's capital. Peri-Khan Aqrawi-Whitcomb, a senior advisor with the group, said it aims to train volunteers who can lead the tours.

“Just like our oral tradition has built our nation, knowing the accomplishments of these heroines will become part of what it means to be a member of our community no matter what your age, gender, nationality, faith, or race.”

Founded in 2016, FVW aims to draw attention to the accomplishment of females of all generations and backgrounds around the world, especially in the Kurdistan Region. 

Editing by John J. Catherine