Iraq

Women in Iraq have expressed disappointment over their lack of political influence in the country despite an election quota and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s promise to increase the number of women ministers in his Cabinet. The New York Times says recent negotiations that led to Iraq’s current government did not involve women, and the country only has one woman minister at present.

“I consider it a disaster,” NYT quotes Ashwaq Abbas, a female member of the Iraqi parliament. “Democracy should also include women, and the rights of women should be developed as the democracy here develops. But what’s actually happened is that the rights of women have gotten worse over time.”