Iraqi women transform political process and decision-making in the country

Perhaps one of the biggest surprises that emerged from the early legislative elections held on October 10, was the victory of the largest number of female candidates from various political forces. 

Ninety-seven women managed to win seats in the next Iraqi parliament, a record that Iraqi women have not achieved since the establishment of the democratic political process in the country after its liberation from the fallen Baath regime in 2003.

The Iraqi constitution stipulates a quota system for women's representation in the parliament. It is stated in Article (49) that the election law aims to achieve a representation of women not less than a quarter of the number of members of the parliament. According to the new election law, this means that women will have 83 seats out of a total of 329.

In the latest election, we can see that 97 women won seats in the parliament which is 14 more seats than their stipulated quota, including 57 female candidates who won seats just from the people's vote without the need for a quota.

Narmin Maarouf: Victory of 97 candidates is evidence of Iraqi women's success 

Nermin Maarouf, one of the candidates of the Kurdistan Coalition, who won a seat in the upcoming parliament, considered this number as a turning point in the political process.

"I would like to congratulate all the winning female candidates for getting 97 seats in the upcoming parliament, which represents about 30% of the number of parliamentarians," Maarouf said in a statement to PUKmedia.

"This is a turning point for the political process and community participation in it. The large number of women reaching the parliament is evidence of the success and insistence of Iraqi women and the desire to participate in the political process and decision-making. The next parliament is an opportunity to unify women's voices on issues related to women's rights, enhance their status, and protect their rights economically, socially, and politically," she added.

What was also remarkable was that 11 female candidates from the Kurdistan Coalition (which consists of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan and the Gorran Movement) won seats in the parliament out of the 18 seats that the coalition obtained according to the preliminary results, which Maarouf considers an embodiment of what the Patriotic Union believes with regards to the rights of woman.

"The victory of this large number of women among the candidates of the Kurdistan Coalition is evidence and embodiment of what the Patriotic Union believes with regards to women's rights, giving them equal opportunities like men, protecting their rights, giving them the status they deserve in the political process and strengthening their role," Maarouf said. 

"We hope that the presence of this number of female winners will pave the way to enhance the status of Iraqi women in general and Kurdish women in particular, enhance the role of women in the Kurdish and Iraqi societies, achieve the foundations of justice and equality, and enhance their role in the economic, social and political aspects of society," she added.

This great result has brought pleasure to the Iraqi women, especially for women working in the media, who expressed their hope that the new female MPs would help in approving and enacting laws that do justice to women and families and improve the conditions of Iraqi women.

Presence of women is essential for the political process

In a statement to PUKmedia, media figure Ikhlas Khalifa stressed that "the presence of women in politics is very necessary, especially since there is a democratic process in Iraq."

"Although I am not convinced of the democracy in our country, women must participate as there are unfair laws against Iraqi women that must enter parliament. I hope that women will have their role in the parliament," she said.

Mere women presence in the parliament is a power for them

For her part, media figure Duha Al-Maadidi believes that the Iraqi woman is successful despite the macho criticism of her, stressing that the presence of women in the parliament is a glimmer of hope for all Iraqi women.

"The increased opportunities for women to participate in the Iraqi elections are evidence that the male side has accepted the saying (women are half of society) after men used to refuse to see women in decision-making positions because of customs, traditions, and the nature of masculine culture," Al-Maadidi told PUKmedia.

"The presence of women in the parliament, away from numbers, gives them strength and a glimmer of hope towards the laws that legislate in their favor," she added.

This victory should be used for women's causes

Journalist Dr. Sabreen Khaza'ali called on the winning candidates to take advantage of this large presence in the parliament for the benefit of women's causes.

"One of the positive things that we have noticed in the new elections is the large number of new women MPs in Parliament, which is an important point and we hope will be significantly used for the benefit of issues that concern women in Iraq," Al-Khaza'ali told PUKmedia.

"Despite the great obstacles and the clear control of the major blocs, we hope for the best in imposing the opinion of the new women representatives and working in a real, serious, and collective manner to solve all issues related to the reality of women in Iraq," she added.



Reported by Fayaq Yazidi
PUKmedia