CPA is working to increase women’s participation in government. The Governing Council’s March 1 agreement on the Transitional Administrative Law includes language calling for an election system to be designed with the goal of no less than 25 percent representation of women in the interim national assembly. CPA’s Office for Women’s Affairs has set up the Inter-Ministerial Working Group to provide a focal point for all ministries as they recruit and promote women in the ministries and to monitor the number of women in management and leadership positions in the ministries.
CPA has supported several women’s groups to ensure that Iraqi women are able to fully participate in Iraqi society. The Office of Women’s Affairs CPA supported the country’s first major women’s conference in Baghdad in July 2003. Since then CPA has sponsored three regional conferences and given support to six newly established women’s organizations.
CPA has provided funding for Women’s Centers throughout the country. These Centers offer vocational training and educational opportunities and give women a place to congregate, share experiences, and plan for the future. To date, assistance has been provided to Women’s Centers in nine major cities and CPA is currently working on centers in four additional cities. In addition, nine Women’s Centers are planned for Baghdad; the first celebrated its opening on International Women’s Day on March 8.