Iraqi Women's Union
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The Iraqi Women's Union (IWU) was a women's advocacy group founded in 1945 which lasted until the Iraqi government crackdown on leftist organizations in the late 1950s.[1] Throughout the course of its operation, the IWU focused on advocating on behalf of key women's issues regarding education, marriage rights, and labour rights, while equally engaging in charitable social work first hand.[2] Due to the political climate in Iraq at the time, the union is known for having heavily antagonized male traditionalists while simultaneously retaining close ties to the political elite. The organization built its foundation upon other female advocacy groups which had emerged prior in the Middle East, and acted as a coordinating body for these other groups' activities.[3] The growth of the union was further catalyzed during the late 1940s as female advocacy groups had gained prominence during the Second World War.[3]