Iraqi lawmaker says women surpass men in commitment to transitional justice.

[k98nights]

Iraqi lawmaker says women surpass men in commitment to transitional justice.

Wednesday, December 15th 2010 9:27 AM

Baghdad, Dec. 15 (AKnews) – A female MP from the National Coalition (NC) said on Wednesday that Women should be given a more substantial role in the Iraqi parliament as they demonstrate a deeper commitment to transitional justice, pivotal in the construction of a new Iraq.

Transitional justice generally refers to a range of approaches that states may use to address past human rights violations and includes both judicial and non-judicial approaches. They include series of actions or policies and their resulting institutions, which may be enacted at a point of political transition from violence and repression to societal stability.

Safia al-Suhail told AKnews that the participation of female MPs has not been emphasized in the Iraqi parliament despite continued requests and petitions.

“There are many critical issues that require women to hold executive positions in order to participate in solving them, especially as women constitute more than 60 % of the Iraqi population,” she said.

In its third session, the newly reconvened Iraqi parliament approved a bill that insisted on a 25% representation of female lawmakers in the formation of the different parliamentary committees, given that women hold 83 seats in the 325-seat parliament.

At a time when the different parliamentary blocs are vying to attain prominence in the forthcoming government formation, some observers believe the creation of a women’s bloc may be the only way to make the female lawmakers’ voices heard.

Reported by Fadi al-Issa

Rn/Ka/AKnews

http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/4/202464/

[Freedom Biz]

Ooooo. Wouldn't it be interesting to watch if the women dared to form their own block? Thanks, k98nights.