US embassy cable - 05BAGHDAD2496

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, Women's Rights, National Assembly 
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