UN renews commitment to Iraqi women as Baghdad named Capital of Arab Women

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – On International Women’s Day (IWD), the United Nations team in Iraq renews its commitment to support the rights of Iraqi women and girls, and to advocate for the acceleration of their empowerment as well as the strengthening of gender equality, according to a press statement issued by the United Nations.

To mark the occasion in Iraq, the Women Empowerment Directorate of the Council of Ministers Secretariat, under the auspices of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, and in cooperation with UN agencies, launched a conference in conjunction with the declaration of Baghdad as the Capital of Arab Women for 2023, the statement mentioned.

At the conference, the government also launched its National Strategy for Iraqi Women 2023-2030, with special focus on the importance of women’s political participation, protection of women and girls, economic empowerment, and climate change, the statement clarified.

The national strategy is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, constitutional principles of human rights, and the Iraqi government’s priority to empower women, the statement explained.

International Women’s Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly as a global call to recognize the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, and an opportunity to advocate for their rights and empowerment, the statement elaborated.

This year’s International Women’s Day theme ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality,’ recognizes how a gender-responsive approach to innovation, technology and digital education can help to collectively achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the statement illustrated.

Advancements in digital technology offer opportunities to address development and humanitarian challenges, including increasing participation of women and girls in leadership and political realms, as well as entrepreneurship, the statement added.