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Iraq's Constitutional Quota for Women in the Council of Representatives

Iraq · Baghdad · See the Iraq profile

Since 2005, Iraq's constitution has reserved at least 25% of the 329-seat Council of Representatives for women. In 2021, women won 95 seats (28.9%) — 57 outside the quota — though researchers find the gain has not translated into policy power.

28.9%
Women's seats in Council of Representatives, 2021 (Oct 2021)
57
Women elected outside quota mechanism, 2021 (2021)
19
Women's ministerial posts (2005-2021)
Iraq's Constitutional Quota for Women in the Council of Representatives

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq / Council of Representatives
Period
2005–present
Keywords
politics, elections, governance, quotas, women's political participation

Context

Iraq's 2005 constitution and Election Law reserve at least 25% of the 329-seat Council of Representatives for women, topping up party lists with the highest-placed women candidates where needed to reach the threshold.

Results

In the October 2021 election, women won 95 seats (28.9%), the highest in Iraq's history, with 57 winning directly rather than through the quota mechanism; LSE Middle East Centre research based on MP and civil-society interviews found these descriptive gains have not converted into substantive power, with women holding only 19 ministerial posts between 2005 and 2021.

Implementation

Implementation detail (cost, timeline, staffing, conditions for success) is not yet available for this practice.

Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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