The College of Education's Women's Affairs Unit organized a workshop entitled "The Role of Iraqi Women in the Parliamentary Elections: Effective Participation and Achievements." In pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality), the workshop was held on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Humanitarian Building, Hall 505. The workshop was delivered by Professor Dr. Thanaa Bahaa El-Din Abdullah, Head of the College's Women's Affairs Unit. The workshop was attended by the esteemed Dean, Assistant Professor Dr. Ahmed Rawdan, and Professor Dr. Huda Hashem, Dean of the College of Fine Arts. A number of professors, department heads, teaching staff, administrators, and students also attended.
The workshop addressed:
Introduction:
The role of Iraqi women throughout history, which constitutes an essential part of building society and politics. Despite the significant challenges they faced due to political and social circumstances, they have been able to establish their presence in public life, particularly in the political and electoral spheres. In recent years, the role of Iraqi women has become more prominent in parliamentary elections, both as voters and candidates, reflecting a growing societal awareness of the importance of their participation in decision-making. Iraqi women's participation in parliament has witnessed remarkable progress since 2003, when the 2005 Iraqi Constitution guaranteed women's political rights. Article (20) stipulates that "Citizens, both men and women, have the right to participate in public affairs and enjoy political rights." The 2005 Iraqi Constitution also imposed a "women's quota" system, allocating 25% of parliamentary seats to women (equivalent to 83 out of 329 seats), which has contributed to increasing their representation in parliament. Achievements:
- In the 2021 elections, Iraqi women exceeded their quota, winning 97 seats (approximately 30%) instead of the 83 seats allocated to them by the constitution. Some female candidates, such as Sarwa Abdul Wahid, received more than 28,000 votes, indicating growing societal acceptance of women's political role. In Sulaymaniyah Governorate, 11 women won out of 18 seats, the highest percentage of female representation among Iraqi governorates.
In the 2021 Iraqi government, women accounted for no more than three of the 22 ministerial portfolios. The recent parliamentary elections witnessed an increase in the number of female candidates, with many women running independently or within political blocs, reflecting a genuine desire for change and active participation.
The Impact of Iraqi Women on the Electoral Process:
- Parliamentary elections are a fundamental pillar of the democratic system.
- Women constitute half of society and play a vital role in the electoral process.
The workshop reviewed the role of women as:
- Voters, candidates, workers in electoral institutions, and political activists.
First: Women as Voters:
- The right to vote is guaranteed to women in most countries.
- The impact of women's voting on election results.
- Initiatives to raise women's awareness of the importance of political participation.
- Statistics: Real-life example: "In Sweden, women's voting participation reaches 90% due to awareness-raising policies from school onward."
Iraqi Women as Voters: Iraqi women play a pivotal role in determining election outcomes, constituting a significant percentage of the electorate. Awareness campaigns led by civil society organizations have encouraged women to register and vote. Second: Women as Candidates:
- The number of women in parliaments has increased globally (for example, women's representation in the Rwandan parliament is ≈ 61%).
- Challenges women face in running for office: social customs, weak financial support, gender bias.
- The importance of women's quotas to ensure fair representation: The quota system has been the primary factor in ensuring women's representation, as most female representatives enter parliament through this system rather than through direct competition. Some analyses indicate that parties use quotas to strengthen their influence without giving women a truly active role.
- International comparison: Women's representation in parliaments of selected countries (for example, the UAE: 50%, Saudi Arabia: 20%, France: 39%).
- Iraqi women as candidates: Prominent women have emerged on the political scene, some of whom have managed to lead parliamentary blocs or hold senior positions, demonstrating their competence and ability to effect positive change.
- The role of women's quotas:
Third: Women in electoral institutions: The role of women in:
- Supervising elections
- Polling Stations
- Monitoring the Integrity of the Electoral Process
Fourth: Women as Political Activists:
- Their Role in Election Campaigns and Awareness.
- Their Influence on Decision-Making Through Political Lobbying.
- Associations and Organizations Supporting Women's Political Participation.
"Women's Impact on Legislation":
- Impact Models: When women's representation in parliament increases, laws protecting the family, education, and health increase (for example, maternity leave in Jordan increases after more women reach parliament).
- Iraqi Women as Supporters of Reform: Many women in the Iraqi parliament raise issues related to the family, education, and health, making their role essential in shaping more equitable policies.
- Case Study: The Rwandan Experience: After women gained 61% of seats, laws were passed to combat domestic violence.
- Successful Experiences Globally and in the Arab World:
- Globally: New Zealand (the first country to grant women the right to vote).
- Arab: Tunisia (high representation in parliament).
- Obstacles to Women's Participation:
- Social and cultural factors, such as social customs and traditions, that diminish women's political participation.
- Laws that limit Of her opportunities.
- Lack of family and community support.
- Weak financial and media support for female candidates compared to their male counterparts.
- Proposed solutions:
- Training women in political discourse.
- Allocating a portion of electoral funding to support female candidates.
- Increasing community awareness and amending electoral laws (such as the small-district system) may enhance the role of women.
Recommendations:
- The need to empower women politically.
- The importance of raising awareness of the importance of their participation.
- Enforce laws supporting women in elections.
- The importance of the media in highlighting competent female candidates.
Conclusion:
Iraqi women remain a fundamental pillar in building democracy and consolidating political stability. Despite the quantitative progress in Iraqi women's representation in parliament, their qualitative impact remains limited due to a culture of political and social marginalization. Despite the obstacles and challenges, their participation in parliamentary elections represents an important step toward achieving fair representation and more inclusive policies. Therefore, their role must be strengthened through supporting awareness campaigns, providing legal protection, and empowering them economically and socially to ensure their effective participation in shaping Iraq's future. Strengthening the effective role of women also requires profound legislative and cultural reforms, in addition to greater institutional support for female candidates and representatives. The individual successes of some female parliamentarians remain a beacon of hope for a brighter future for women in Iraqi political life. Therefore, Iraqi women are not only half of society, but they are also its changemakers.

(Al-Mustaqbal University is the first university in Iraq.)