VP stresses women’s role in society

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi on Sunday stressed the significance of women’s role in Iraqi society, calling on artists to erect a monument for Iraqi women. “Iraqi society, government, Parliament, ministries, and local and international organizations should recognize the importance of women and the need to treat them fairly…,” Hashemi said in a speech during a ceremony organized by his Baghdad-based office on the International Women’s Day, which was attended by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The issue of women’s rights and duties has been given priority in intellectual and social debates in Arab and Muslim societies due to the transformations that resulted from the openness to international community…,” he added. The event was attended by the special representative of the United Nations secretary general for Iraq, Staffan de Mistura, representatives of several Iraqi ministries and civil society organizations and members of the parliamentary women and children committee. SS (P) 1