MORE RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN'S MINISTRY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 002496

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2025
TAGS: KWMN PHUM PGOV IZ
SUBJECT: MORE RESTRICTIONS ON WOMEN'S MINISTRY

REF: BAGHDAD 2256

Classified By: ACTING POLCOUNS HENRY ENSHER FOR REASONS
1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Minister of State for Women's
Affairs Azhar Sheikhly told PolOff on June 9 that the
Council of Ministers denied her request to elevate the
status of the Women's Ministry (reftel). Transitional
National Assembly member (TNA) Faiezah Baba Khan will
now raise the issue for TNA consideration. State
ministries are now required to get permission from the
Council of Ministers to conduct business with the
major ministries, further limiting their
effectiveness. END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Minister of State for Women's Affairs Azhar
Sheikhly told PolOff on June 9 that the Council of
Ministers' legal advisor denied her request to elevate
the status of the Women's Ministry (reftel).
According to Sheikhly, the advisor told her that he
failed even to see the need for such a ministry so
could not support her request. Sheikhly said she
submitted to the Council a letter of protest stating
the denial was based on the personal bias of the
advisor and, therefore, not legal.


3. (C) Sheikhly told PolOff that Transitional
National Assembly (TNA) member Faiezah Baba Khan (PUK)
agreed to raise to the TNA the need for the Women's
Ministry to be an independent organization. Sheikhly
was cautiously optimistic about the possibility of
success, but emphasized the difficulties the Ministry
currently faces on every level in the absence of a
budget and autonomy. According to Sheikhly, the
Ministry is allotted 43 employees -- to include 25
guards -- but does not contract with them directly.
The Council of Ministers determines employees'
salaries and enters into contracts with them.
Sheikhly complained that she is trying to hire an
advisor, but the salary offered by the Council of
Ministers is too paltry to attract qualified
candidates.


4. (C) Minister Sheikhly further stated that her
operational effectiveness is limited by new
constraints placed on her by the Council of Ministers.
Although she previously was allowed to contact other
ministers directly, she is now forbidden to do so
without specific permission by the Council of
Ministers. (NOTE: The Minister of State for Civil
Affairs, Ala'a Habib Khadim, told PolOff on June 12
that state ministries are required to request Council
of Ministry permission in order to conduct business
with the major ministries. Khadim added that the
Council of Ministries regards state ministries as no
more than government consultants, suggesting that such
ministries should be eliminated. END NOTE.)

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COMMENT
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5. (C) The necessity of the Women's Ministry and its
lack of independence has been debated since its
inception. However, during the constitutional
drafting process -- particularly given the likely
debate over the rights of women -- the Women's
Ministry could play a role in facilitating the
dialogue amongst the Constitutional Committee, the
Government, non-governmental organizations, and the
general public. END COMMENT.


6. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO
KIRKUK, Minimize considered.


Jeffrey