IWJF organized in Mosul a dialogue seminar on women’s political participation between electoral security and legislation

IWJF: Mosul

With the support of UN Women in Iraq and Women’s Peace & Humanitarian Fund, the Iraqi Women Journalists Forum organized in Mosul on December 27 a dialogue seminar on the political participation of women between electoral security and fair legislation with the participation of the Electoral Commission, the local government, jurists, academics and civil society organizations.

Mrs. Raja Zaidan Al-Sheikh the coordinator of IWJF in Mosul, explained the purpose of the seminar and the activities that were carried out within the project and the importance of discussing the political empowerment of women and their participation in the upcoming elections by providing a safe electoral environment.

The representative of the Independent High Electoral Commission, Omar Azhar Al-Bakwa, reviewed the percentage of women’s participation in previous elections, and the need for women to update their barometric information to ensure their right to participate in the upcoming elections, by nominating them on the electoral lists while ensuring a fair environment for competition in candidacy and electoral campaigning away from political auctions.

Dr. Hamdan Ramadan Muhammad explained about the role of women in political participation and its impact on modernizing and developing the reality of society and defending issues related to the right of women to represent them in society. He concluded by talking about the security conditions and electoral security for women in the future, and how to preserve the female component in expanding its participation through a quota for women in political parties and blocs that lead society.

Legal Wafa Ramadan talked about the role of international laws, United Nations laws and laws that were approved at the (Beijing) Conference and the CEDAW Treaty in encouraging and making room for women to participate with men in political life, in addition to what the Iraqi state laws and constitutions have approved in this regard in ensuring the right of women in political participation.

Mrs. Mona Hashem Salih from the Nineveh Governorate Court confirmed the ability of the governorate to support any feminist efforts for the participation of women in political life and to educate and encourage women in this field until the next elections are held in the governorate.

The dialogue session ended with an expanded discussion on the nature of women’s participation in the upcoming elections and how to improve their role in exercising their right in political action with the feminist audience present at the seminar.