Iraqi Kurdistan: As the 13th convention of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) of Iraq draws nearer, Fazil Mirani, head of the political bureau of the party said that his party is not supportive of the quota system, meaning to predetermine certain amount of seats, for women.
“We are not with quota. We support women to be elected leaders of the party by men and women's votes,” said Mirani.
KDP party is led by Massoud Barzani, president of the federal region of Kurdistan in Iraq.
Mirani's disagreement with quota does not seem to have much support among women who believe our society has long way to go to vote for women to become leaders.
Dr. Kurdistan Mukriany, head of the KDP-affiliated Kurdistan Women's Union (KWU) said that in the region, quota was important to keep women part of the political and public life.
“I believe that KDP has many qualified women who can become leadership members of the KDP depending on their own constituencies,” said Dr. Mukriany. “But quota is still important in case women don't win.”
Chinar Sa'ad Abdulla, former Minister of Anfal and Martyrs Affairs, is expected to run for a leadership member of the KDP. She said in conservative societies quota will encourage women to be active in the political life.
“Quota will keep women's rights granted. It is very good,” said Abdulla.
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan led by Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, KDP's power-sharing partner, had a quota system through which five women were elected members of the Leadership Council in the party's third Convention held in June.
30 percent of the members of the Parliament of Kurdistan are women based a quota system.
