ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Women are reduced to “decoration” in Kurdistan Region’s politics, not real partners and decision-makers, argued female candidates in a discussion on women in politics hosted by Rudaw TV. Some women have been given prominent positions in the electoral lists of some parties, but this doesn’t mean they have any influence, said Layla Ali Abdulazziz, a candidate from the Toward Reform alliance of two Islamic parties. “We don’t see women being decision makers in parties. Up to now, our role is merely for decoration. That is why it doesn’t matter who heads lists. Prior decoration roles don’t matter. What matters is who has given rights to women,” she said. Thirty percent of seats in the Kurdistan Region parliament are reserved for women, but they rarely break through the upper echelons of power to hold ministerial or senior positions. A panel of ten women from across the political spectrum came together to share their thoughts and strategies for women in the Kurdistan Region parliament. “I want, when I start working, to do something to be beneficial to all women, especially our Turkmen women,” said Asmahan Haji Hamdi, a candidate from the Turkmen Erbil Coalition, pointing out “grave shortcomings” in areas like health insurance. Trifa Sabir Nanakali, of the Modern Alliance of socialist parties, said women should stand together, across party lines. “Patriarchy and customs have caused, either in society or within parties, women’s voices to be heard less often. We women, however, shouldn’t stand by and watch. We have to collectively agree on women being competent and capable,” she said. Komal’s Rupak Ahmed argued that the patriarchy was to blame for women lacking the confidence and belief that they can lead and succeed. She thinks that creating more job opportunities for women will help. The gender gap in the Kurdistan Region is enormous in terms of representation in the work force. Just 15 percent of women of working age are employed – that number jumps to 70 percent for men, according to a recent demographic survey by the KRG and UN agencies. Most women who work come from affluent households, the survey found. Gorran’s Zhino Mohammed said all of society needs to support women and the government’s job is to ensure laws protecting women against violence are implemented and enforced.
