Women’s quota discussion meeting
Date:
During the meeting held in Baghdad on August 30, 2021 to discuss the women's quota in the seat distribution system according to the new electoral law. Photo Courtesy: Women's Empowerment Directorate of the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Cabinet.
The Independent High Electoral Commission and the Women's Empowerment Directorate of the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Cabinet, with the support of UN Women, organized a special meeting, attended by the Parliamentary Committee of Women, Family, and Children, to discuss the women's quota in the seat distribution system according to the new electoral law.
Dr. Ahlam Al-Jabri, Head of the Committee, Member of the Board of the Independent High Electoral Commission overseeing women's participation in elections, outlined in her opening remarks the commission's procedures in raising the percentage of women's quotas according to the law, and in cooperation with the House of Representatives, through the Women's and Law Committees to define the system for arranging and increasing seats.
Dr. Ammar Abdul Qahar, Program Director at UN Women, confirmed the role of UN Women in supporting all the commission's activities and representing all UN organizations working in the field of gender equality.
Dr. Yusra Mohsen, Director-General of the Women's Empowerment Directorate of the General Secretariat of the Iraqi Cabinet, presented a detailed report on the percentages of distribution of seats for women to electoral constituencies and by regions, and the possibility of raising the rate from 25 to 31 percent according to the number of votes for each constituency.
Dr. Maysoon Al-Saadi, Member of the Parliament, expressed her gratitude for the efforts made by the Electoral Commission and the support of the UN Women to organize such meetings to define a system for increasing the women's quota and the number of seats allocated to all constituencies.