Media

MEP Backs Call from Iraqi Women for Greater EU Assistance

Friday 12th September 2008
Baroness Nicholson MEP

At the conclusion week long visit to the European Parliament, Baroness Emma Nicholson MEP has backed calls from a delegation of the Iraqi Council of Representatives Women’s, Childhood and Family Committee to provide more targeted European Union help to Iraq’s women, families and children.

Speaking at the end of the week’s proceeding Baroness Emma Nicholson said: “My colleagues at the European Parliament are hearing in detail, some for the first time, the crushing burden of underdevelopment, lack of resources and unemployment that afflicts many of the women of Iraq, and the profound effect that this is having on families and children.  We now need to move from talk to action to put in place the effective programmes that empower the women of Iraq to address the challenges that they are facing.”

Dr. Sameerah Jaafar al Musawi, chair of the Committee has outlined six major difficulties facing Iraq’s women, families and children:

• The increasing dependency on men in securing basic needs due to the deterioration in female participation in economic activity.
• The decline in women’s social and cultural roles and the growing illiteracy.
• A severe down turn in the number of female students in schools, colleges and universities.
• A female unemployment rate that exceeds 60% and a disparity in wages.
• The growing number of widows and dependent orphans, where the number of divorced and widowed women in Iraq exceeds one million.
• The growing numbers of single women who lack education or who cant find appropriate employment.

Speaking at the start of the week’s proceedings, Dr. Sameerah Jaafa al Musawi, chair of the Iraqi Council of Representatives Women’s, Childhood and Family Committee said: “The Committee on Women, Family and Children bearing this reality in front of you all wants to prove to all Iraqis that the civilized world fully understands our situation and conditions and those of al people who aspire to build a democratic state.  It is vital to understand that on this day and age, freedom and participation are the foundation for a good life for all people and all nations.  An issue that is a necessity for all humanity.”

In its meetings with politicians and civil servants the Committee has called for the European Parliament and Union institutions to focus its efforts in three particular areas:

1. Expand the technical education and vocational training programmes so as to encourage female participation, ensuring that this investment meets the future needs of the Iraqi labour market, with a particularly focus on information technology, and to ensure that women are given equal opportunities to participate in such programmes.
2. Include gender and women issues in national and local plans and economic and social policies that will ultimately lead to reducing discrimination and reduce the gender gap.
3. Develop economic and social policies that target women headed families and widows to provide them with the means to acquire income-generating opportunities to help them become self-sufficient through education and training and through providing micro-credit.

Baroness Nicholson MEP concluded: “I have seen first hand on many occasions the extremely difficult situation that face Iraq’s women, families and children.  The European Union and Governments from around the world need to be seized of the pressing need that must be addressed.  I will work hard to ensure that the European Union faces these challenges head on and in a spirit of cooperation and partnership with our partners and colleagues in Iraq.”