28 June 2022; Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Ministry of Planning, the Kurdistan Region Statistics Office and UNFPA launched today the results of the second Iraq Women Integrated Social and Health (IWISH) survey in the Kurdistan Region, conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning of the Federal Government and Central Statistical Organisation and with funding from Sweden.
The survey covers the topics of women empowerment, violence against women, early marriage, family planning and maternal health, COVID19, education, employment and other relevant social factors influencing women’s rights in Iraq. It also offers integrated data showing the change in women's economic and social status in Iraq since 2011.
Speaking at the event, Dr Dara Rasheed, Minister of Planning of the Kurdistan Regional Government, reiterated the importance of data and statistics and stated that: “the Ministry of Planning prioritises making reliable data and new statistics available to governmental institutions to ensure that regulations and policies are developed based on evidence. We also encourage the government to utilise the data collected to develop their programmes and projects to empower women and girls in the Kurdistan Region.”
Dr Rita Columbia, UNFPA Representative to Iraq, during the launch reiterated that “availability and use of reliable data for policy and decision making is vital for the regional sustainable development, where the rights of all especially women and girls as the most vulnerable are protected and fulfilled”.
The representatives of ministries in KRI, the High Council for Women Development, CSOs and international partners expressed their interest in studying the findings of the survey and using them for improving legislation, policies and programmes in KRI.
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UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, delivers a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.
For more information or media inquiries please contact: Salwa Moussa, Communications Specialist, smoussa@unfpa.org
