The Women’s Affairs Unit at the College of Physical Education and Sports Sciences for Women, University of Baghdad, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Mais Mahmoud Salman, organized a developmental training course entitled “Developing Women’s Capacities.” The course was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Intisar Muzafar Ouda, a faculty member at the College of Nursing, University of Baghdad, with the participation of several lecturers and students from the college.
The course aimed to safeguard women physically and psychologically, to build confidence in handling dangerous situations, to enable rapid and effective responses to various emergencies, to raise awareness of everyday risks, to impart essential self-protection skills, to teach the principles of first aid, to develop decision-making abilities under pressure, and to strengthen self-confidence and the sense of security.
The program addressed five main themes. The first theme discussed the types of risks that women may encounter (at home, in the street, at work, or at university), recognizing early warning signals, and distinguishing between rational fear and exaggerated fear. The second theme focused on the concept of self-protection through acquiring basic skills such as confident body language, maintaining a safe distance, shouting and seeking help, and prioritizing safe escape over confrontation. The third theme addressed emergency response to incidents such as fires, earthquakes, traffic accidents, fainting, or bleeding, by applying correct response tools—remaining calm, assessing the situation, seeking assistance, and intervening safely. The fourth theme covered basic first aid, including preliminary cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), treatment of wounds and burns, choking, and minor fractures. The fifth and final theme dealt with psychological support and confidence building, including controlling fear and anxiety during emergencies, enhancing self-confidence, breaking the stereotype of “women as weak,” and reinforcing the role of women as active contributors to society.
This course contributes to several Sustainable Development Goals, specifically Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
