The PUK Fight for Women's Empowerment: 50 Years from the Past to the Future

Assistant Prof. Dr. Paiman Ramazan Ahmed, President of the University of Raparin

Written by Assistant Prof. Dr. Paiman Ramazan Ahmed, President of the University of Raparin.

PUK: The Promising Valve for Women's Empowerment and Presence 
 
The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has a historical contribution to empowering women in government and politics. The PUK has been the leading party in the history of Iraq to consider the role of women in all aspects of the state and society.

Kurdish women have had an active role in the call for action against the Ba'ath regime, in particular women in the PUK. Women's equality and human rights are of valuable importance for the PUK in the past, present, and future.

Women's recognition in politics, governance, and state has been addressed in the philosophy of the PUK, led by the late President Mam Jalal Talabani. The same is practised by the president of the PUK, Bafel Talabani, and the deputy prime minister of the Kurdistan Region, MR. Qubad Talabani, who consider women's skills, knowledge, and capacities in all the fields relevant to government and politics.

The PUK has shifted the participation of women and attitudes towards women's role in the political process since its establishment on 01 June 1975. Since the early 1990s, women have been better represented in the government and politics; thus, women's access to parliament and elections has become possible.

The PUK has a proven commitment to women's empowerment and ensures the equal participation of women. After decades, from the view of Talabani's vision, women's presence is felt, and the situation of women has made steady progress regardless of the cultural, social, political and economic conditions.