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Iraq: Lawmakers Promise Boycott Over Women's Government Role

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Iraq: Lawmakers Promise Boycott Over Women's Government Role

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Iraqi political blocs and parliamentary committees announced that they will boycott parliament sessions in protest of “the marginalization of the role of women in political life, since no seats were allocated to women in the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).” [The nine-member commission, Iraq's sole electoral authority, has the power to ban candidates from participating in elections.]

The parliament has already nominated IHEC commissioners, without involving any female members. This drawn ire from female MPs and objections from Christians and Turkmen.

Safiya Suheil, an independent MP, told Al-Hayat that “women are being marginalized to a large extent in the Iraqi political life, in general, and in all the legislative, executive and judicial institutions, in particular.”

She added that “this [nomination] is a breach of the constitution, which enjoins the participation of women in all the details of the political process.

“We demand that women be allocated a seat in the IHEC and other institutions, and that is in accordance with the legal quota for female participation in parliament, which is at least 25%” she added.

Read more at Al Monitor, published 19 September 2012.
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North Africa and Middle East
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Iraqi political blocs and parliamentary committees announced that they will boycott parliament sessions in protest of “the marginalization of the role of women in political life, since no seats were allocated to women in the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC).” [The nine-member commission, Iraq's sole electoral authority, has the power to ban candidates from participating in elections.]

The parliament has already nominated IHEC commissioners, without involving any female members. This drawn ire from female MPs and objections from Christians and Turkmen.

Safiya Suheil, an independent MP, told Al-Hayat that “women are being marginalized to a large extent in the Iraqi political life, in general, and in all the legislative, executive and judicial institutions, in particular.”

She added that “this [nomination] is a breach of the constitution, which enjoins the participation of women in all the details of the political process.

“We demand that women be allocated a seat in the IHEC and other institutions, and that is in accordance with the legal quota for female participation in parliament, which is at least 25%” she added.

Read more at Al Monitor, published 19 September 2012.
News
World News
Region
North Africa and Middle East
Issues
Elections
Quotas
Parliaments and Representatives
Constitution and Legislative Reform