Ranya, Autonomous region Kurdistan, Iraq

The city of Ranya lies in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northeastern Iraq. Surrounded by three mountain chains, Ranya is home to 62,000 residents. In 1991, many of the city’s residents rose up against Saddam Hussein’s regime, setting the liberation of Kurdistan in motion. Women in the region, however, continue to face significant oppression. Honor killings and female genital mutilation rob many of their self-determination. Those circumstances led the Kurdish Parliament to pass a law against domestic violence in June, 2011. In early March, 2012, authorities mandated the opening of a women’s shelter.
The city has three colleges and three other institutes offering a range of academic programs.