Iraqi female politicians are protesting over the lack of female appointees to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki’s Cabinet, which is as yet unfinished.
Only two females were offered positions in the Cabinet, one of which is a “minister without portfolio”: a job with no description or office. The other was for women’s affairs, but Zayan Dakhil, the woman offered the job, refused to take it in protest.
Some 50 female lawmakers went to the country’s top leadership, the United Nations, and the Arab League to voice their concern and desire for increased representation.
Ten posts in the Cabinet remain unfilled, and are temporarily assigned to people with other active Cabinet positions.
“It seems that the leaders do not trust us as politicians or as ministers,” said Safiyah al-Suhail, an Iraqi female lawmaker, according to AP.
Only two females were offered positions in the Cabinet, one of which is a “minister without portfolio”: a job with no description or office. The other was for women’s affairs, but Zayan Dakhil, the woman offered the job, refused to take it in protest.
Some 50 female lawmakers went to the country’s top leadership, the United Nations, and the Arab League to voice their concern and desire for increased representation.
Ten posts in the Cabinet remain unfilled, and are temporarily assigned to people with other active Cabinet positions.
“It seems that the leaders do not trust us as politicians or as ministers,” said Safiyah al-Suhail, an Iraqi female lawmaker, according to AP.
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