UN renews commitment to Iraqi women and girls as Baghdad named the Capital of Arab Women 2023

On International Women’s Day (IWD), the United Nations family in Iraq renews its commitment to support the rights of women and girls in Iraq, and to advocate for the acceleration of their empowerment as well as the strengthening of gender equality.

To mark the occasion in Iraq, the Council of Ministers Secretariat (ComSec)/Women Empowerment Directorate, under the auspices of H.E. Prime Minister Mohammed S. al-Sudani and in cooperation with UN agencies, launched a conference in conjunction with the declaration of Baghdad as the Capital of Arab Women for 2023, as decided by the Arab Women’s Committee.

At the conference, the government also launched its National Strategy for Iraqi Women 2023-2030, with special focus on the importance of women’s political participation, protection of women and girls, economic empowerment, and climate change. The national strategy is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, constitutional principles of human rights, and the Government of Iraq’s priority to empower women.

International Women’s Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as a global call to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and an opportunity to advocate for their rights and empowerment.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme is “DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,” recognizing how a gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can help us to collectively achieve the Global Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Advancements in digital technology offer opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges, including increasing participation of women and girls in leadership and political realms, as well as entrepreneurship.

“On this occasion, we congratulate Iraqi women for the recent vote by the Council of Ministers to approve the National Strategy for Iraqi Women for the years 2023-2030. The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers contributed to its formulation and adoption of its axes through the participatory effort of the executive and legislative sectors, local organizations, and supporting international bodies.”

“The axes of the strategy focus on advancing the reality of Iraqi women and empowering them in various fields, such as social, political, economic, protection, participation, financial inclusion, and facing climate challenges. The government believes in the active and influential role that women have accomplished and continue to achieve in building state institutions and maturing their democratic experience.” said Hameed al-Ghizi, Secretary-General of the Cabinet, on behalf of Prime Minister Mohammed Shiaa Al-Sudani and expressed these views.

“The UN stands with the women and girls of Iraq, and their empowerment is at the heart of our work in this country,” said Ghulam Isaczai, the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Iraq. “UN family in Iraq is committed to see Iraqi women enjoy full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic, and public life. To achieve this, we must keep moving forward to ensure the root causes of systemic inequality are addressed, and women and girls are provided with every opportunity to participate in an increasingly digitized world”, he added.