The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) High Council for Women and Development (HCWD) announced in a post on X on July 19 that it had discussed boosting female participation with the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs (MoPA).

Under the supervision of HCWD Secretary General Khanzad Ahmad, the meeting was held in the presence of the Director of Reform in the MoPA, KRG officials, and members of the Gender Unit in the MoPA.

Under the supervision of @DrKhanzad, Secretary General of the #HCWD, a meeting was held in the presence of the Director of the #Reform in the Ministry of #Peshmerga, officials, and members of the #Gender Unit in the Ministry of Peshmerga, pic.twitter.com/uyiGYz0O9F

— High Council for Women and Development (HCWD) (@HighHcwa) July 19, 2024

The HCWD said that they had “discussed female participation with the MoPA to support women, as well as the issue of activating the Gender Directorate as a unit to support the role and influence of women and girls and increase their proportion in the leadership team of the peshmerga.”

Moreover, the HCWD said the meeting also addressed the balance of women’s rights.

Additionally, the role of the MoPA’s Reform Directorate team – which is preparing a draft project to define men and women’s rights, obligations, and gender balance – was discussed.

“We support initiatives to increase the participation of women in the peshmerga forces and we advise and assist on this specific topic,” military advisor for the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Erbil Col. Walter van Bijlevelt told Kurdistan Chronicle.

Senior Kurdish officials have previously praised the role of women in the Kurdistan Region, particularly those who have served in the peshmerga and fought against ISIS.

During an event to commemorate the anniversary of the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security in October 2023, KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani underlined that the KRG is “proud of the active role Kurdish women have played in our history, from revolutions to uprisings.”

“Since the Kurdish Uprisings of 1991 and the establishment of the Kurdistan Region Parliament and government, Kurdish women’s participation in politics and governance has evolved significantly. They now play a crucial role in our region’s development and progress,” he said.

“The KRG is dedicated to enhancing women’s participation in government and eradicating marginalization and violence against them,” he added. “We aim to empower Kurdish women to contribute effectively to the region’s development.”