Empowering women in security: EU and Iraq advance counter-terrorism intelligence

Twenty-five Iraqi female officers strengthened their skills in counter-terrorism intelligence during a week-long training in Baghdad, organized under the EU-funded CT JUST project. 

Held at the Joint Coordination Center and hosted by the European Union Advisory Mission in Iraq (EUAM Iraq), the activity focused on operational intelligence tools (human (HUMINT), open source (OSINT), and geospatial (GEOINT)) used in investigations on foreign terrorist fighters. 

What is CT JUST? 

CT JUST is an EU-funded programme that helps partner countries strengthen their ability to prevent and combat terrorism while upholding the rule of law and human rights. 

The project supports national authorities in improving investigation techniques, judicial cooperation, and coordination between security and justice sectors. In Iraq, CT JUST works with security institutions to build counter-terrorism capacity, promote gender equality in law enforcement, and ensure that operational practices align with international standards and EU principles. 

Enhancing investigative capacity through modern intelligence tools 

Developed in response to Iraqi authorities’ priorities, the course aimed to enhance the operational capacity of law enforcement units to apply modern intelligence techniques while respecting human rights and integrating a gender perspective. 

Participants from several Iraqi state agencies, including the Ministry of Interior and the National Intelligence Service, took part in theoretical and practical sessions led by European experts from Spain, Belgium, and EUROPOL. The training covered a range of topics, from identity virtualisation and social media analysis to satellite imagery and data cross-referencing. 

Recognising women’s role in security 

Major General Alaa Jaber Hasim of Iraq’s Ministry of Interior highlighted the programme’s added value for national capacity building, while EUAM Iraq’s Head of Security, Chief Commissioner Angelina Mezach, underlined its role in empowering women in law enforcement and promoting a safer society. 

Part of a long-term partnership 

The activity forms part of the CT JUST project’s 2024–2026 bilateral cooperation cycle between the EU and Iraq, implemented under the Instrument contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP). It also supports the EU’s Gender Action Plan III and the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by promoting women’s professional development in security and counter-terrorism. 

A follow-up module focusing on digital evidence and forensic methodologies is scheduled for later in 2025, continuing efforts to foster sustainable, gender-responsive technical cooperation between the EU and Iraq. 

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