Iraqi women have been angered by the new government formation in their country, which sorely lacks female representation, wrote Meead al Taei in an opinion piece for the pan-Arab daily Asharq al Awsat.
Iraq's female parliamentarians refused to control the single ministry they were offered so far in the hope of leading some of the more important ministries.
After decades of struggle, socially and politically, Iraqi women deserve to be empowered so they can make up the lost years under the former regime, and have a say in making the political process in Iraq.
"Iraqi women must become essential partners in the political process and must play their role towards the success of the democratic experience in the new Iraq."
For this to happen, both the legislative and executive powers have to ensure justice and protect women by respecting the quota provided in the constitution. Under the law, they reserve the right to hold 25 per cent of seats in the parliament and provincial councils.
Yet the first political experience of Iraqi women in the past few years have shown that it was feeble on the whole. This due to social taboos, which still undermine women's ability to lead.
In a patriarchal society like Iraq, few women were given chance to develop further their skills in community leadership to prove themselves.
