Iraq women's minister calls off resignation
She had quit to protest a lack of resources, but now has pledges from aid groups, volunteers.
BAGHDAD - Iraq's state minister for women's affairs said yesterday that she planned to withdraw her resignation after receiving pledges from aid organizations to help improve women's lives.
Nawal al-Samarraie quit last month to protest a lack of resources, accusing the government of not making women's needs a priority.
But the Sunni activist decided to return to her job after getting pledges for funds and support from international aid groups. She also said more than 50 Iraqi women had offered to volunteer to implement the ministry's plans.
"The reason for my resignation was the lack of funds and human resources," she said by telephone, "but with the new situation, I think I can work."
Samarraie said she would present her request to be reinstated today to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office. The office could not immediately be reached for comment on whether it would accept her request.
Maliki is to leave today for Australia with top political and economic officials in a bid to attract investment.
Women face overwhelming hardships in Iraq, with tens of thousands of them left poor or widowed by war.
Oxfam, a Britain-based charity, said Sunday that the situation had only worsened for many Iraqi women since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion despite security gains over the last year and a half.
A study released by the group showed that the overwhelming majority of the 1,700 women interviewed did not have sufficient access to electricity or drinking water and that 75 percent of the widows were not receiving the government aid they are owed.
All Iraqis have undergone difficulties, but women face the additional danger of being sidelined and unable to get jobs in a male-dominated society. Widows, for example, traditionally move in with extended families, but many families find it increasingly difficult to care for them.
Other problems for women include homelessness, domestic violence, and random detention in military sweeps.
Iraqi security forces faced more violence yesterday.
Gunmen opened fire on a police checkpoint in the northern city of Mosul, killing two officers, police said. A policeman died in a bicycle-bomb blast in Mishada, also north of Baghdad.