Since the U.S. occupation, women in Iraq have lost more rights than they have gained. Incidents of rape and abduction by organized gangs have increased the fear of sexual violence. This has discouraged women from returning to work or finding employment, and families prevent their daughters from going to school.

Armed conservative religious groups are pressuring schools and workplaces to require women and girls to wear a veil by threatening acid attacks or abduction. It is because of this that Girls' enrollment and attendance is on a steep dive across the country.

Victims of these incidences refuse to contact the police, hospitals, or help of a professional kind for fear of dishonouring their family, or being killed. Lack of jobs and security for women has forced some of them to resort to prostitution, putting themselves at grave risks of honour killings.

Yet despite all this violence there are several Iraqi women's organizations that are demanding women's representation in public bodies and are working to protect women on the ground. The money that was raised during the 2005 V-Day campaign helped to support these groups, and get Iraqi women's voices out to the public.