MotorDown
06-26-2005, 10:31 PM
US department recaps efforts to assist Iraqi women
MENAFN - 26/06/2005
(MENAFN) This week, the Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues of the U.S. State Department released information detailing ways the United States is carrying out its commitment to helping the women of Iraq, Portal Iraq reported.
As part of the approximately $21 billion in U.S. funding for Iraqi reconstruction in 2003 and 2004, the United States allocated nearly half a billion dollars to support democracy-building programs in Iraq -- including projects that specifically help women with democratic organization and advocacy.
U.S. Government-sponsored programs are helping Iraqi women develop in areas from literacy, computer and vocational training to human rights education. Micro-credit facilities and workshops are helping aspiring Iraqi businesswomen, and additional funds are improving women's access to quality health care.
In addition to that, the U.S. democracy programs helped Iraqi women prepare for the elections. Through grants funded by the State Department's $10 million Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative (IWDI), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provided training in political leadership, communications, and coalition-building skills to many of the women members of the National Assembly. These grants also provided the funding for voter education. Since early February, training has focused on constitution drafting, legal reform, and the legislative process. Over 2000 Iraqi women already have been trained in political, economic and media skills under the IWDI.
MENAFN - 26/06/2005
(MENAFN) This week, the Office of the Senior Coordinator for International Women's Issues of the U.S. State Department released information detailing ways the United States is carrying out its commitment to helping the women of Iraq, Portal Iraq reported.
As part of the approximately $21 billion in U.S. funding for Iraqi reconstruction in 2003 and 2004, the United States allocated nearly half a billion dollars to support democracy-building programs in Iraq -- including projects that specifically help women with democratic organization and advocacy.
U.S. Government-sponsored programs are helping Iraqi women develop in areas from literacy, computer and vocational training to human rights education. Micro-credit facilities and workshops are helping aspiring Iraqi businesswomen, and additional funds are improving women's access to quality health care.
In addition to that, the U.S. democracy programs helped Iraqi women prepare for the elections. Through grants funded by the State Department's $10 million Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative (IWDI), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) provided training in political leadership, communications, and coalition-building skills to many of the women members of the National Assembly. These grants also provided the funding for voter education. Since early February, training has focused on constitution drafting, legal reform, and the legislative process. Over 2000 Iraqi women already have been trained in political, economic and media skills under the IWDI.