About NASUWT
• NASUWT is the largest trade union representing
285,000 teachers and headteachers in the UK.
• The Union is led by the General Secretary Chris Keates.
• Every year the Union holds Annual Conference to
debate the issues affecting teachers’ working lives.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
NASUWT International Work
• NASUWT officially supports trade unions in four
countries: Burma, Iraq, Zimbabwe and Colombia
• NASUWT is represented on the Executive Board of
Education International, a federation of international
trade unions
• For further information go to
www.nasuwt.org.uk/International
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Iraq – Life Under Saddam
Iraq was ruled by a brutal
dictator for many years
named Saddam Hussein.
The Iraqi dictatorship
brutalised and murdered
people within their own
country and denied them
even basic human rights
such as freedom of speech.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Iraq – Key facts
• Population: 34 million
• Official Language: Arabic, Kurdish
• Currency: Iraqi Dinar
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
The Iraq War
Governments including
those from the UK and
the USA waged a
controversial war
against Saddam
Hussein which led to his
removal in 2003.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers
Around The World
Post-War Chaos
• Although the dictatorship
was removed, this led to a
civil war which British and
American forces were
unable to effectively deal
with.
• Many people continued to
be killed during this period
and democratic structures
were difficult to develop
both because of the
previous dictatorship and
because of the civil war.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Human Rights & Democracy
• Although the situation has improved in
Iraq over the last two years, violent attacks
are still common and basic structures
including trade unions are still developing.
• The NASUWT is involved in developing
trade unions in Iraq and promoting human
rights. In recent years this has included
visits, donations, targeted protests,
contacting politicians in the UK to remind
them that these problems still exist in Iraq
and inviting speakers to discuss their
problems.
• The NASUWT has been involved in
regular training programmes with Iraqi
trade unions including regular trips to the
UK.
Abdullah Muhsin: Iraqi teacher
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trade union representative
Around The World
Women’s Rights In Iraq
• Women were oppressed during the dictatorship under Saddam
Hussein but unfortunately since the Iraq war the process of
furthering women’s rights was not prioritised by the Coalition
Forces.
• This has meant that women are still, all too often, treated as
second class citizens and are subject to discrimination and
violence.
• The United Nations, as a result of lobbying by women’s rights
groups and other organisations such as trade unions, drafted a
National Development Plan for Iraq which includes gender
equality as an objective. It is clear, however, that despite this
significant step, progress is slow for the achievement of true
gender equality.
Activities
You could:
• Use the information and photos in the presentation to
produce a fact file of the key issues in Iraq.
• Use the information and photos you have researched to
write a letter to your MP about the issues in Iraq.
• Use the information and photos within the presentation
and on the linked websites to produce a campaigning
leaflet or poster identifying why people should support a
campaign for human rights in Iraq.
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World
Links
• For further information on the NASUWT’s
campaigns visit www.nasuwt.org.uk/Iraq
• To write a letter to your MP visit
www.nasuwt.org.uk/ContactYourMP
NASUWT – Supporting Teachers Around The World