Sundus Abbas is an

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

women's rights activist Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...

. As the executive director of the Women's Leadership Institute in

Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...

, she has worked to improve women's rights. Abbas was trained as a

political scientist Political science is the science, scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and power, and the analysis of politics, political activities, political thought, political behavior, and associated c ...

, and she has worked to improve Iraqi women's involvement in their political parties, in the constitutional drafting and amending process, and in national reconciliation and conflict resolution efforts.AWIU » 2007 WOC – Dr. Sundus Abbas
/ref> She has also written for Iraq's main daily newspapers on the topic of women's rights, and held press conferences to address issues of concern to women, as well as teaching classes on decision-making. Abbas has also traveled throughout the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabian Peninsula, Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Anatolia, Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Pro ...

for women's conferences and seminars.WDN to Present Jeane J. Kirkpatrick Award , International Republican Institute (IRI)
/ref> In 2007, she received an

International Women of Courage Award The International Women of Courage Award, also referred to as the U.S. Secretary of State's International Women of Courage Award, is an American award presented annually by the United States Department of State to women around the world who have ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbas, Sundas Living people Iraqi women Iraqi women's rights activists Year of birth missing (living people) Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award