This article provides an overview of longstanding gender-based violence in Iraq, which has been grounded in the nation’s legal framework and societal norms. Where armed conflict initiated by ISIL and other militia groups have significantly exacerbated discrimination against marginalized groups, the article addresses the rights and humanitarian needs of women fleeing these territories. The contextual analysis provides an understanding of how armed actors manipulate the pre-existing susceptibilities to gender-based abuse in order to achieve their own objectives. By conducting interviews with local Iraqi women’s rights activists, the article identifies sustainable solutions to deep-seated human rights violations that have been intensified by armed conflict. Namely, the author identifies the importance of legalizing NGO-run shelters to provide refuge for displaced persons, providing legal identification documentation where a male family member is absent, and improving access to healthcare.