HC Deb 15 March 2004 vol 419 cc25-6W
Sue Doughty

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what programmes his Department has introduced to involve Iraqi women in(a) government and (b) other areas of public life in Iraq; and if he will list the (i) personnel and (ii) funding that have been committed. [161475]

Hilary Benn

Gender equality is an integral part of DFID's work in Iraq. We are working specifically to support Iraqi women in their involvement in political processes and reconstruction. A £500,000 grant to the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) strategy for empowering women in Iraq is strengthening women's groups at a governorate level and encouraging government to take proper account of the needs of women. Two DFID-funded advisers provide support and expertise to the Iraqi Governing Council, the Coalition Provisional Authority and to the newly forming women's groups. We have also recently established a £5 million fund to promote political representation and participation by all Iraqi people, which will include support to achieving the goal of 25 per cent. women's representation in the National Assembly.

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