Baghdad: The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Iraq has expressed its commitment to supporting community awareness initiatives focused on women’s and reproductive health.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the Director of the Reproductive Health Program at UNFPA Iraq, Abdullah Al-Kamil, emphasized the organization’s intention to develop meaningful partnerships with media professionals and influencers. This collaboration aims to address women’s and reproductive health issues in a way that aligns with the community’s cultural context.

Al-Kamil highlighted that the foundation of family planning and UNFPA’s programs are guided by the documents of the Fourth International Conference on Population and Development held in 1994. The UN Population Fund’s approach does not seek to alter societal policies, cultural norms, or religious beliefs, but rather to enhance awareness of health issues. Al-Kamil noted that each country retains the right to adopt practices that align with its cultural and legal frameworks. He clarified that while UNFPA does not advocate for birth control in Iraq, other countries have implemented birth control policies and safe family health methods.

The international program official reiterated UNFPA’s readiness to support a comprehensive community awareness campaign on women’s issues and family planning, which is of interest to various sectors in Iraq. This includes government, the private sector, civil society organizations, and the Ministries of Education, Higher Education, and Health. These entities play a crucial role in enhancing community awareness. Al-Kamil stressed the importance of involving media professionals in these campaigns to ensure a thorough understanding of women’s issues and family planning, thereby enabling the media to effectively convey awareness messages and empower families to make informed decisions for their children’s futures.