KDP VP Masrour Barzani congratulates Kurdistan Women’s Union on congress success

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, in his capacity as Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) Vice President, on Friday congratulated the Kurdistan Women’s Union on the success of its ninth congress and the nomination of Ziba Taha as Secretary of the Union, according to a statement shared with Kurdistan24.

“Wishing you continued success and progress in your efforts to protect and advance the rights of women, strengthen their role and position in society, and defend national issues and achievements,” Barzani said.

The remarks by the senior KDP official come a day after he attended the Union’s congress, where he noted that “Increased women's participation in governance is indicative of the KRG's aim to empower women in society.”

The Union had recently marked its 71st anniversary, marking its founding on Dec. 11, 1952, in Sulaimani.

Earlier in November, the Kurdistan Region observed 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence (GBV), an international campaign organized by the UN.

Read More: KRG aims to further empower women, says PM Barzani

Despite progress, the Kurdistan Region still suffers from a poor reputation in the field of women’s rights.

The Region still has a historical stigma associated with its prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM), albeit the conservative practice is not seen as prevalent in today's more secular Kurdish society, with strict laws in place outlawing it.

Some headway has been made, such as in Feb. 2020, when a human rights watchdog declared the Garmiyan administration had completely eradicated the practice. Yet the watchdog also found that of mothers surveyed throughout the Kurdistan Region, 4.3% said they intended to carry out FGM on their daughters in secret.

Yet the most pressing matter for Kurdish women is the prevalence of so-called honor killings involving infidelity and sexual relationships out of wedlock. In just two months in early 2022, the Kurdistan Region witnessed an alarming total of nine honor killings, prompting Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to publish a statement expressing his concerns.

"I'm deeply troubled by recent violence towards women in Kurdistan Region. I reiterate what I have said; there is no honor in honor killing," he said in Feb. 2022. 

Editing by Dastan Muwaffaq