The Human Rights Unit at the College of Political Science – University of Baghdad, in collaboration with the Continuing Education Division, organized a scientific workshop with the title: “Women’s Right to Cybersecurity: Legal and Technical Protection.” The event was held at the Jihad Al-Hasani Hall on Thursday, February 26, 2026, and attended by several faculty members and students.
The workshop featured presentations by Asst. Prof. Dr. Hamida Ali Jaber, Asst. Prof. Dr. Shahlaa Ridha Mahdi, and Lec. Dr. Fatima Farhan Zghayir. They addressed the concept of cybersecurity from a human rights perspective, focusing on forms of digital violence directed against women, including electronic blackmail, privacy violations, defamation, and hate speech across digital platforms. Furthermore, they reviewed national constitutional and legislative frameworks alongside international efforts relevant to protecting women in cyberspace.
The workshop aimed to enhance awareness of women’s rights to digital security, clarify the legal and technical mechanisms to protect them from electronic violations, and empower students to understand the human rights and political dimensions of cybersecurity, thereby consolidating a culture of safe and responsible technology use.
This workshop falls under Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (Gender Equality) by supporting women’s empowerment and ensuring their protection from various forms of digital violence.
The workshop concluded with a series of recommendations, most notably: developing a legal framework to combat cybercrimes targeting women, integrating digital security concepts into educational curricula, and empowering women with technical protection tools and safe reporting mechanisms. It also emphasized the necessity to strengthen cooperation between academic institutions and relevant authorities to ensure a secure electronic environment that preserves women’s dignity and rights.
