“The Positive Impact of Women’s Participation in the Political Process and Decision-Making”
Tamuz Organization for Social Development, in collaboration with Iraqi Women Network, held a dialogue session titled “The Positive Impact of Women’s Participation in the Political Process and Decision-Making,” funded by the French Development Agency (AFD) on Saturday, May 25, 2024, in Baghdad.
The session witnessed the presence of several activists and representatives from civil society organizations. also hosted the Iraqi parliament member Mrs. Sarwa Abdul Wahid to discuss her political experience and the challenges women face in political life. She stated that there are many obstacles preventing women from political participation, the most prominent of which are the lack of belief in their abilities and the patriarchal authority that marginalizes the role of women in all fields. She emphasized that women today need parties that believe in the importance of their role in political work. She also showcased numerous success stories achieved by her and her colleagues in Parliament, such as campaigns and interventions to stop several projects that affect rights and freedoms.
Afterward, the floor was opened for interventions and discussions among the attendees, and a set of recommendations was concluded, the most important of which are:
– Supporting the process of democratic transformation and the concepts of human rights and citizenship.
– Enhancing the legal framework to support women in leadership roles, including amending the law of parties to achieve a quota for women in the leadership and formation of political parties, as well as the election law regarding the implementation of the women’s quota.
– Focusing on spreading the culture of democracy, non-discrimination, the right to difference and pluralism, and the concepts of justice and equality between men and women.
– The importance of training women to ensure that unqualified women do not reach leadership positions.
– The importance of combining civil society activities with political activities, whether by participating in parties or elections, voting, and candidacy.
– The matter of accumulation in political and public work, ensuring training in political work from early stages.
