The beginnings of club activities had been slow and gradual, but a sudden release of energy followed the Cairo Women's Conference of December 1944. At last the accumulated force of the educated women broke the bonds of tradition and inertia to move for the reconstruction of their country. Thus, the younger generation of the Iraqi women are necessarily at the helm of the modern women's movement in Iraq.
At least twenty active women's organizations are today effective in Iraqi society. It is beyond the scope of this brief sketch to describe each organization separately. They are all concerned with social and welfare work.
Five of these societies decided, in 1945, to found «The Women's Federation of Iraq»
for the triple purpose of, 1) mutually assisting one another in their work, 2) having a representative body through which they might be linked with their sisters in other Arab countries and with international organizations, and 3) establishing a cultural center for women. In the last aim they have been extremely fortunate
for the government, about two years ago, handed over to the Union a club house and grounds for their meetings and social gatherings. Mrs. Asia Wehbi is the President of the Iraqi Women's Federation.
«Iraqi women are engaged in twofold activities», writes Mrs. Jamali. «Those who are advanced seek, on the one hand, further self improvement and on the other the improvement of society. It is their aim to look inward to themselves and outward to the task of building the nation and contributing to the solidarity and advancement of the neighbouring Arab States and wider still to the world as a whole».
«It is a wonderful growth and development, quick and sturdy, self-willed and self-directed, national and international».