As part of the ongoing academic collaboration between the Department of Archaeology in the College of Arts and Humanities at Al-Mustaqbal University and the Women’s Affairs Division, a scholarly workshop entitled “Women’s Rights and Status in Ancient Iraq” was convened. Presented by Dr. Fawziya Mahdi Al-Maliki and Assistant Lecturer Ria Nassif Jassim, the session was attended by a distinguished assembly of students and scholars interested in historical and social studies.

Through a critical analysis of cuneiform inscriptions and legal codices, the workshop examined the multifaceted roles women occupied in Mesopotamian society. Special attention was given to their entitlements and legal standing in matters of family, marriage, property ownership, and labor, as well as their active participation in judicial and religious spheres—underscoring women’s significant influence within the socio-legal framework of ancient Iraqi civilization.

The event generated robust engagement, with participants posing incisive questions and observations that enriched the discourse. This interactive dialogue not only deepened historical understanding of women’s societal positions in the cradle of civilization but also facilitated reflections on modern cultural and social transformations.

This workshop is one installment in a series of targeted academic initiatives by the department, designed to recontextualize women’s historical roles through rigorous scholarly inquiry—thereby advancing collective awareness and affirming the pivotal place of women’s studies within our shared cultural heritage.

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