Hussein Abu Al-Subah / Researcher
The Iraqi political arena is preparing for a new electoral cycle that brings renewed challenges related to the participation of historically marginalized groups in the democratic process, chief among them, women and youth. Despite the passage of more than two decades since the establishment of the pluralistic system after 2003, the electoral equation in Iraq continues to tilt in favor of traditional forces that monopolize decision-making positions and possess tools of influence and financing.
In contrast, a wide segment of the new generation aspires to bring about a qualitative change in the composition of the upcoming parliament, inspired by the legacy of the Tishreen (October) protests and by calls for political reform. Here, a fundamental question arises: Can women and youth assert a meaningful presence in the forthcoming elections?
This paper seeks to answer that question by analyzing current obstacles, assessing the effectiveness of the quota system, and exploring prospects for enhancing participation in the future-drawing on credible international and national reports (UNAMI, ESCWA, the Independent High Electoral Commission, and the EU Election Observation Mission).
First: The Reality of Women’s and Youth Representation in the Iraqi Electoral Experience
Women’s participation in Iraqi elections has constituted a unique experience in the Arab region. Since 2005, the constitution has mandated a women’s quota of 25% to ensure a minimum level of representation within parliament. However, this step-despite its symbolic importance-has not translated into a qualitative political impact that reflects the true scale of women’s contribution to Iraqi society (UNAMI, 2021).
As for youth, who make up more than half of the population, they have faced growing disillusionment with the electoral process, particularly as many feel that their voices do not reach the centers of decision-making. A report by the Regional Dialogue Center (2022) indicated that only about one-third of young people participated in the 2021 elections, due to a lack of confidence in the outcomes of elections and in their ability to affect living conditions.
This decline in electoral enthusiasm reflects a dual crisis of confidence: women’s faith in the value of participating in a male-dominated political system, and youth’s belief in the capacity of the ballot box to bring about real change.
Second: The Main Obstacles Hindering the Participation of Women and Youth
- The Complex Electoral System
One of the major challenges lies in the legal and organizational framework of elections, which often works to the advantage of entrenched political parties. The law that divided provinces into small electoral districts has increased the influence of local power groups while reducing opportunities for independent candidates-especially women who lack tribal or partisan backing (Chatham House, 2022).
Moreover, the adoption of the modified Sainte-Laguë formula has made it difficult for small lists or new candidates to win seats, creating an electoral environment that is unequal in the distribution of opportunities (Independent High Electoral Commission, 2021).
- Social Barriers and Cultural Heritage
In a conservative society like Iraq, traditional views of women continue to limit their full engagement in political life. Social restrictions and tribal customs exert heavy pressure on women, as female candidates often face smear campaigns and rumors during every electoral season-making them more cautious about media appearances or field outreach (ESCWA, 2021).
Some social groups also perceive women in politics as an “imported phenomenon” or a “violation of tradition,” reflecting the deep-rooted gender-based value discrimination within the Iraqi collective consciousness.
- Security Risks and Political Intimidation
Fragile security conditions remain a major obstacle to free political participation. The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM, 2022) documented incidents of threats and assaults against female candidates, journalists, and activists in various regions.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI, 2021), electoral violence is no longer merely physical but has extended into the digital sphere through systematic campaigns of online harassment and blackmail. Such an environment renders political participation a high-risk personal endeavor, particularly for independent women and youth lacking partisan or tribal protection.
- Limited Financial Resources
Elections in Iraq require extensive campaign spending, which most women and young candidates cannot afford. A report by the Democracy Empowerment Foundation (2022) revealed that women received less than 10% of total electoral funding, while traditional parties controlled the remainder. Consequently, campaigns led by women and youth tend to have limited reach and influence, significantly reducing their chances of success in an uneven competitive environment.
- Lack of Political Training and Weak Organizational Capacities
Political participation is not limited to candidacy or voting-it also requires organizational and administrative competencies for managing campaigns and shaping discourse. A study by the Independent High Electoral Commission (2021) showed that most female and youth candidates had not received professional training in political leadership or public communication.
Although some international organizations, such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, 2022), have made efforts to provide such training, these initiatives remain limited in scope and reach only a small fraction of candidates.
- The Dominance of Traditional Media Discourse
Media outlets continue to reproduce stereotypical images of women in politics. Instead of focusing on their competencies and platforms, coverage often highlights appearances or family affiliations.
The Iraqi Electoral Media Observatory (2021) reported that more than half of election talk shows did not feature a single female candidate during the campaign period. This media absence reduces candidates’ ability to communicate with voters and keeps the public image of women politicians confined within reductive media stereotypes.
Third: Evaluating the Women’s Quota System
Although the women’s quota system has achieved a quantitative leap in women’s representation within parliament, it has not produced the desired transformation in their actual political empowerment. According to the United Nations report (UNAMI, 2022), the proportion of women who won seats outside the quota system did not exceed 30%. The main reason is that political parties still treat the quota as a legal obligation rather than an ideological conviction, often placing women’s names in lower positions on electoral lists merely to ensure formal balance. Therefore, the quota must be transformed into a platform for genuine empowerment by building the capacities of female parliamentarians, activating their roles in key parliamentary committees, and changing party culture from within.
Fourth: Youth Between Disengagement and Hope
Since the Tishreen (October) 2019 protests, Iraqi youth have become a symbol of political and social change. However, this momentum has not been fully reflected at the ballot box. A report by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (2022) indicates that about two-thirds of young people believe political participation to be “futile,” and that the electoral system “perpetuates the old elites.”
This partial withdrawal from participation is a dangerous indicator, as it shows that a large segment of society has lost confidence in the mechanisms of democracy. Nevertheless, youth still possess new means of influence, such as digital spaces and virtual organization, which could serve as a foundation for a modern political movement if supported by an enabling legal environment.
Fifth: Mechanisms for Advancing Future Political Participation
- Reforming Electoral Laws: Reforming the electoral system has become essential to remove structural barriers facing women and youth. Revisiting the method of seat allocation and adopting a fairer mechanism-such as the “balanced proportionality” model-could offer better opportunities for independent candidates (Chatham House, 2023).
- Establishing National Funding Mechanisms: The ESCWA Committee (2022) proposes the establishment of a national fund to finance women’s and youth electoral campaigns. The fund would be administered transparently by the Independent High Electoral Commission in cooperation with the United Nations, to ensure fair and equitable competition.
- Institutional Empowerment and Systematic Training: Political training academies should be established under governmental and societal sponsorship to prepare female candidates and young activists in leadership and electoral management skills (UNDP, 2022). It is also advisable to integrate “civic and political education” courses into university curricula to promote a culture of participation from early stages.
- Strengthening Legal and Media Protection: It is necessary to enact a specific law addressing political violence-encompassing both physical and digital harm-and to provide rapid redress mechanisms for victims (EU EOM, 2022). At the same time, media outlets should be required to allocate a specific proportion of their programming to female candidates and independent youth to ensure equitable representation (Iraqi Electoral Media Observatory, 2021).
- The Role of Civil Society and Local Alliances: Strengthening partnerships between civil society and electoral bodies can enhance citizens’ confidence in the electoral process. Local organizations have the capacity to organize awareness workshops in rural areas and small towns, encouraging young voters to participate in elections (NED, 2022).
Sixth: Indicators and Measures of Progress
To assess the success of empowerment efforts, specific indicators should be monitored, the most significant of which include:
- Increasing the percentage of women winning seats outside the quota to 40% in the next elections.
- Raising youth voter turnout to over 55%.
- Reducing recorded cases of political violence by 60%.
- Increasing funding for women’s and youth campaigns to 25% of total electoral spending (UNAMI, 2023).
Ultimately, the path toward reforming Iraq’s electoral process does not pass solely through amending laws but through rebuilding political culture on the foundations of equality and representative justice.
The empowerment of women and youth is no longer a political luxury or an electoral slogan-it is a prerequisite for the legitimacy of the democratic system itself. When citizenship becomes the criterion for participation-rather than affiliation or gender-and when the quota transforms into a genuine instrument of empowerment rather than a symbolic gesture, Iraq can enter a new stage in its political history, one in which half of its energy, embodied in women, and the other half, represented by youth, jointly contribute to shaping national decision-making.
This is not the responsibility of the government alone; it is the duty of an entire society that believes democracy is only complete when every voice is heard.
References
- United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), Gender Analysis of Iraq’s October 2021 Elections, New York, 2021.
- United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), Women Running for Elected Office in Iraq: Needs Assessment, Beirut, 2022.
- Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq, General Report on the 2021 Parliamentary Elections, Baghdad, 2022.
- European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Final Report on Iraq Elections 2021, Brussels, 2022.
- Regional Dialogue Center, Study on Youth Participation in the Iraqi Elections 2021, Baghdad, 2022.
- Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Iraq’s Youth and Political Participation after 2019, Washington, 2022.
- Chatham House, Electoral Reform and Representation in Iraq, London, 2023.
- Iraqi Electoral Media Observatory, Analysis of Media Coverage of Candidates 2021, Baghdad, 2021.
- Iraqi Democracy Empowerment Foundation, Electoral Financing in Iraq: A Case Study, Baghdad, 2022.
- United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Youth and Women Political Empowerment in Iraq, Baghdad, 2022.
