Advisor to PM unveils plans to empower women in labor market

BAGHDAD — Shahba Al-Azzawi, advisor to the Iraq’s prime minister on women’s affairs and a member of the Supreme Council for Women’s Affairs, revealed on Sunday a future plan to integrate girls into the labor market, starting with the launch of the Advanced Development Guide for the national team, which includes 5,000 girls in its first phase, from which legal, health, educational, and agricultural aspects will emerge.

Women in Iraq, however, face significant challenges in securing employment. In March, the International Labour Organization reported that Iraqi women have the lowest labor force participation rate globally, with just 10.6% of Iraq’s 13 million working-age women employed or seeking work.

Al-Azzawi’s statement to Iraqi News Agency:

The Supreme Council for Women’s Affairs has worked on implementing the provisions of the Women’s Rights Charter through its offices and under the supervision of the National Women’s Directorate. The council is keen to focus on women’s issues and empower them educationally, health-wise, economically, and in leadership roles within government institutions.

Attention has been given to rural women and agricultural engineers through the establishment of new projects, the construction of smart villages, and the training of women working in the agricultural sector.

The council is currently in the process of implementing future plans, training girls to enter the labor market, starting with the launch of the Advanced Development Guide for the national team, which includes 5,000 girls in its first phase, from which legal, health, educational, and agricultural aspects will emerge.

The council is committed to the directives of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani and the decisions of the Supreme Council, by organizing workshops and holding seminars dedicated to women and their interests in various fields, including engineering, project management, and addressing challenges in the field.