public statements
The International Women’s Initiative issues public statements as a vital mechanism for accountability, advocacy, and global solidarity. These statements serve as a formal record of dissent against the systemic erosion of rights and provide a voice for those silenced by discriminatory legal and social frameworks.
The International Women's Initiative (IWI) condemns in the strongest possible terms the horrendous airstrike on the Shajareh Tayyebeh Girls' Primary School in Minab, southern Iran, on 28 February 2026. According to local official reports and international news agencies, the strike directly hit the school while classes were underway, killing at least 165 people—the vast majority of them girls between the ages of 7 and 12, along with their teachers.
Evidence points toward U.S. responsibility for this attack. Visual investigations indicate the school was hit by a precision strike occurring simultaneously with U.S. attacks on a nearby naval base. U.S. military officials have stated that operations in southern Iran, including the Minab area, were conducted by U.S. forces, while Israeli operations were focused on the north. The Israeli Occupation Forces have stated they were not aware of any operation in that area.
The IWI calls on the international community, the United Nations, and all member states to insist on accountability, to demand transparency, and to work toward an immediate de-escalation of hostilities that continue to claim the lives of the most vulnerable.
10 March 2026Prepared by Intisar AlQsar, Director of Advocacy and Public Information The IWI: International Women’s Initiative
addressing the "Justice Gap"
Currently, women globally hold only approximately 64% of the legal rights of men. IWI’s statements target the specific gaps where the law fails—such as the lack of consent-based rape definitions or the absence of equal pay legislation. These documents provide the evidence-based analysis necessary for humanitarians and policymakers to make life-saving decisions in fast-changing or stagnant political climates.
Visibility for Unique Vulnerabilities
Global crises—from conflict to climate change—do not affect genders equally. IWI issues statements to highlight situations unique to women and girls, such as:
The use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
The disproportionate impact of "backsliding" on reproductive rights.
The systematic exclusion of girls from education in specific regimes.
A Catalyst for Solidarity and Action
Beyond policy, these statements serve an essential social function. They signal to grassroots activists and survivors that they are seen and supported by a global network. This legitimises local feminist movements and provides them with a "shorthand" of international terminology to use in their own advocacy.
A Framework for Change
Upholding International Standards (CEDAW)
Public statements are the primary tool for holding states accountable to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). When a nation-state fails to prevent gender-based violence, denies reproductive autonomy, or allows discriminatory property laws, IWI identifies these not merely as "issues," but as legal violations of an international treaty. By framing situations through the lens of CEDAW, IWI elevates local grievances to the level of international human rights law.
Combatting the "Culture of Impunity"
In many regions, violence against women and girls is treated as a private matter or a cultural norm rather than a crime.
The Goal: To shatter the silence that allows perpetrators to go unpunished.
The Impact: Statements act as a "global alert," notifying the international community, UN bodies, and financial donors that a specific government is failing its obligations. This external pressure is often the only catalyst for domestic legal reform.
23 February 2026Prepared by Intisar AlQsar, Director of Advocacy and Public Information The IWI: International Women’s Initiative