Support to Iraqi Women

USAID & Save the Children helping Local Communities Basrah, Iraq Support to Iraqi Women Women's rights were formally enshrined in Iraq's 1970 constitution making Iraqi women nominally equal with men. The constitution guaranteed them, among other rights, the right to vote, hold political office and work outside of the home. Despite officially recognizing women's rights in law, this legislation was frequently not enforced. By 1990, laws protecting women were even repealed as evidenced by the de-criminalization of honor killings. Thousands of women became victims of this change in law. While enforcement of laws safeguarding women's rights was inconsistent, Iraq's formal acknowledgement and promotion of women's rights, nevertheless, resulted in women's active participation in the workforce, education and political sphere. This, in turn, provides a ready context for renewed support for women's rights and their increased participation throughout society. Economic Growth USAID programs support Iraqi women as entrepreneurs, employees, business leaders and professionals. Nearly 60 percent of the small business development grants administered by USAID in the reconstruction effort have been awarded to women. Female Central Bank officers receive training in best practices for accounting and banking oversight and, as a result, are in a stronger position to guide bank reform efforts. An economic growth program recently began a business development outreach initiative with an umbrella group of women's non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in order to help women-led businesses and women's business groups access grants, technical assistance and other services offered by USAID. Democracy and Governance USAID partners are working with female politicians in the Iraqi National Assembly (INA), female journalists, and NGOs and community organizations that advocate for women's interests and provide them with training on gender concepts and analysis, constitutional drafting skills, advocacy efforts and developing legislative platforms. An INA women's caucus that cuts across party lines has been developed and has identified areas of common interest regarding women's rights and the constitution. Elections USAID's efforts to promote women's participation as elected government officials contributed to Iraqi women securing 31 percent of the seats in the INA in the January 30, 2005 elections. In addition, thousands of women were among the nearly 10,000 elections monitors trained by USAID partners in preparation for the elections. Women and Governance USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) has actively recruited and trained women to serve on governorate, municipal and neighborhood advisory councils throughout Iraq. The program also works with city councils to design and implement projects that meet the needs of women in their communities. Finally, the LGP enhances the advocacy skills of women by providing them with training and advice in media relations, advocacy campaigning and communications. Education USAID's education programs are tailored to enhance the enrollment of girls and to help girls who have dropped out of school. These programs provide girls with life skills and the academic background necessary to return to formal schooling. USAID's university partnership programs between Iraqi and U.S. universities have also ensured female students' and faculty's participation in a variety of academic activities. Agriculture USAID's agriculture activities are training women and men in improved crop and livestock production technologies, market development, financial management skills, business planning and rural credit, and improved resource management.