The Women’s Affairs Division, in collaboration with the College of Agricultural Technologies, is organizing a workshop titled: “Political Participation and Development for Iraqi Women: Towards Empowering Female Leadership” The workshop will be delivered by: Assistant Lecturer: Ritaj Aqeel Dawood Kareem Assistant Lecturer: Rofal Fawzi Kareem on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 This workshop aims to shed light on the importance of Iraqi women’s participation in political life and to enhance their role in decision-making positions by building their leadership capabilities and developing their political and social skills. This initiative comes in response to the urgent need to politically empower women amid the challenges they face within Iraqi society—particularly in terms of fair representation and active participation. The workshop will address several key themes, including: • Analyzing the current political landscape for women • Reviewing the social, cultural, and legislative barriers limiting their participation • Showcasing successful female leadership models • Presenting strategies for political development through training and women’s networking Furthermore, the workshop aims to raise participants’ awareness of their constitutional and political rights and equip them with the tools needed to engage in political work, participate in elections, join political parties, and contribute to public policymaking. The workshop will conclude with an action plan and practical recommendations to support women’s empowerment and pave the way for a new generation of female leaders capable of making a positive impact on Iraq’s political future.

The Women’s Affairs Division, in collaboration with the College of Education at Al-Mustaqbal University, organized a workshop entitled “The Role of Iraqi Women in Parliamentary Elections: Active Participation and Achievements,” delivered by Professor Dr. Sanaa Bahaa Al-Din Abdullah. The workshop shed light on the milestones achieved by Iraqi women in political life, particularly their participation in parliamentary elections. It addressed the challenges they have faced and the accomplishments they have made in representing women’s voices within the Iraqi Parliament. The discussion emphasized the importance of utilizing the women’s quota system and enhancing women’s political performance through awareness, training, and encouragement to engage in electoral experiences. The lecture also highlighted successful models of Iraqi female leadership and the significant role women can play in promoting the values of democracy and equality. This workshop is part of a series of activities aimed at reinforcing gender equality principles, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals—particularly Goal 5: Gender Equality. Al-Mustaqbal University — The First University in Iraq

Workshop on the Role of Women in Parliamentary Elections As part of its ongoing efforts to promote political and social awareness, the Women’s Affairs Division at Al-Mustaqbal University organized a workshop titled “The Role of Women in Parliamentary Elections” on June 28, 2025. The session was delivered by Asst. Lecturer Rusul Neama Kamal from the College of Arts and Humanities, and Ms. Rusul Fawzi Kareem, with the participation of a group of academics, women’s rights activists, students, and individuals interested in political affairs. The workshop addressed the importance of women’s participation in the electoral process, both as voters and candidates, and highlighted the active role they can play in shaping policies and decision-making. The discussions also focused on the challenges women face in political life and explored strategies to empower them and strengthen their representation in parliament. The speakers emphasized that empowering women in elections contributes to building a more just and balanced society. They called for the creation of a supportive environment and the enactment of fair legislation to ensure equal opportunities for both genders. The workshop concluded with a set of recommendations that underscored the need for political awareness campaigns targeting women, and for increased media efforts to highlight successful female figures in parliamentary work

University of Al-Mustaqbal Organizes Workshop Titled “Women and Elections: Towards Effective Political Participation” The Women’s Affairs Division, in collaboration with the College of Administrative Sciences / Department of Business Administration at the University of Al-Mustaqbal, organized a workshop on Monday, June 23, 2025, titled: “Women and Elections: Towards Effective Political Participation.” The workshop was led and presented by Professor Dr. Amal Abd Muhammad Ali, with the participation of Professor Dr. Sahira Qahtan Abdul Jabbar, Head of the Women’s Affairs Division. The event was attended by a number of faculty members and students. The workshop highlighted the vital role of women in political engagement, emphasizing their capabilities and competencies that enable them to contribute effectively to decision-making and public life. It also stressed the importance of supporting and encouraging women’s participation in the electoral process — by both institutions and individuals, particularly men — in order to foster balanced political involvement and achieve equal opportunities. The session concluded by affirming that joint cooperation between men and women is essential to realizing the aspirations of the people, as reflected in the slogan: “Hand in hand, we achieve the hopes of the people.”

The Women's Affairs Division, in cooperation with the College of Arts and Humanities at Al-Mustaqbal University, organized a lecture on June 22, 2025, titled: "Leading Experiences: Women in Decision-Making Positions Through Elections" within the framework of the Fourth Pillar: Participation and Institutional Reform. The lecture was presented by Assistant Lecturer Rusul Neama Kamal Bayei, Head of the Women's Affairs Unit at the College. The lecture addressed the topic of women's participation in political life, focusing on successful experiences of women who reached decision-making positions through elections. A variety of female models from different countries were showcased, where women played influential roles as parliamentarians, mayors, and ministers after earning the trust of voters. Key Topics Covered: 1. The Importance of Women's Representation in Decision-Making Positions: Promoting justice and gender equality. Bringing women's and family issues to the public policy agenda. Adding a human and social dimension to legislation and policies. 2. Obstacles Faced by Women in Reaching Decision-Making Positions: Traditions and customs that limit women’s roles. Weak party support and limited campaign funding. Political violence and gender-based discrimination. 3. Successful Models and Experiences: Showcasing stories of Arab and international women who won elections and succeeded in their positions. How they overcame social and political challenges. 4. The Role of Civil Society and Media: Supporting women's participation by providing training and capacity building. Highlighting female role models in media discourse. 5. Recommendations: Support for a temporary women’s quota. Encouraging girls and women to engage in early political participation. Reforming electoral laws to ensure a fair and inclusive environment.

The Women’s Affairs Division at Al-Mustaqbal University organized a workshop on the harms of smoking for various age groups and both genders, on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day. The event was held in cooperation with the Scientific Affairs Department. It emphasized the health risks associated with smoking and ways to enhance efforts to combat it, including supporting individuals who wish to quit smoking, increasing health awareness through friends and family, and using alternative treatments. This activity aimed to fulfill the objective of protection and prevention