Under the patronage of the esteemed University President, and as part of efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and Goal 4 (Quality Education)—the Department of Radiologic Technologies at the College of Health and Medical Technologies, in collaboration with the Women’s Affairs Division, organized an online workshop on 11/4/2026 titled:
“Cyber Harassment and Blackmail Against Women and Girls: Awareness, Prevention, and Protection.”
This workshop was conducted in line with the implementation plan of the Iraqi National Strategy for Women 2026, within its third pillar (Protecting Women and Combating Violence Against Them), and in accordance with the clause dedicated to organizing awareness workshops and seminars on negative phenomena affecting women and girls.
The workshop was presented by specialist physician Dr. Zainab Ali Hussein, with the participation of faculty members, staff, and female students. It aimed to shed light on one of the most significant challenges of the digital era, namely cyber harassment and blackmail.
The session addressed the definition of cyber harassment and blackmail, their most common forms, and the main factors contributing to their spread, in addition to highlighting their psychological and social impacts on victims.
It also provided practical guidelines for prevention, including protecting privacy on social media platforms, using strong passwords, and avoiding sharing personal information with untrusted sources.
Furthermore, the workshop discussed mechanisms for dealing with cyber blackmail cases, emphasizing not responding to blackmailers, preserving evidence, and reporting incidents to the relevant authorities.
The workshop witnessed active engagement from participants through discussions, questions, and hypothetical case studies, reflecting the importance of promoting digital awareness and strengthening a culture of cybersecurity, especially among women and girls.
This event is part of a series of awareness activities aimed at promoting a safe digital environment and empowering women by protecting them from various forms of cyber violence.