A Glimpse of the Iraqi Women's Union

Everyone who visits Iraq cannot but admire the rapid progress and the activity apparent in every quarter of society — to say nothing of the industrial establishments of every kind and the continuous work for the betterment of the individual and the community which the government carries on — while woman devotes herself to raising the standard of her Iraqi sister, protecting childhood and motherhood, and combating social ills. I visited some of the institutions, and my admiration for the organization and precision was no less than my admiration for the Iraqi woman. And here I am now to speak of the works of the Iraqi Women's Union — that Union which gathers together a number of women's associations, and whose members — the presidents of the various associations — perform glorious works in the field of the country.

The Union has a splendid club, the gift of the Iraqi government, in which are delivered the lectures the Union organizes under the name of "the Cultural Season," at the rate of one lecture each week. The first lecture was delivered by Dr. Mustafa Jawad, its subject "The Old Women's Charitable Institutions in Iraq"; the second lecture was given by Mrs. Maida al-Haydari, its subject "The Importance of the School in the Life of the Iraqi Woman"; the third lecture was delivered by Dr. Abd al-Jalil al-Tahir, entitled "The Family Budget"; and the fourth lecturer was Dr. Ibrahim Shawkat, his subject "The Science of Geography among the Arabs." The lectures continue until the middle of May.

"Women's affairs" is the item to which the Union gives its greatest attention: it works for everything that concerns her advancement and strives with all the strength it has been given to raise the standard of the Iraqi woman culturally, socially, and economically.

The Union struggles for the recognition of woman's full exercise of her political rights, and it organized a campaign which it called "Woman's Rights Week," in which lectures and debates were delivered and the Iraqi press and radio took part; the women addressed memoranda to the government and to those in responsibility and organized a plebiscite. This campaign had the happiest effect, and woman's supporters multiplied; may the Iraqi woman, in the near future, be granted this legitimate right.

The Union has also raised the question of the family waqf, and the necessity of woman's sharing with man through her attainment of the right of ownership.

The nurse used to be regarded as a hired hand; after continuous effort the Union succeeded in convincing the competent quarters of the necessity of considering her a government official, to encourage many women to work in this honorable calling, which the country needs.

The Iraqi Women's Union takes part in many congresses, not only to show the extent of the Iraqi woman's activity, but to debate the matters brought up for discussion, and for the good of every Arab country. In 1952 Iraq was represented at the Pakistan congress by Mesdames Asia Tawfiq Wahbi, Ismat Sabah al-Said, Dr. Lam'an Zaki al-Damluji, Sa'diya al-Rahhal, and Badriya Muhammad Hasan Salman; and from the names of these representatives we know that they represented the Arab woman most worthily and brought back great benefit.

At the congress of the international league of family organizations, which convened at Oxford in 1952, Mrs. Ismat Sabah al-Said represented the Iraqi Union and all the Arab unions; she raised the problem of the Palestinian refugees and the necessity of their return to their country.

Mrs. Asia Wahbi attended the congress of the Middle East Medical Association, convened on the subject of the white-slave traffic, and presented a motion for the abolition of the white-slave traffic and the abolition of the right of the third party, in accordance with the charter of human rights; her proposal met with unanimous support, and the British Medical Association approved it.

The Iraqi Women's Union was represented at the Denmark congress in 1953, and at the congress of the social studies circle which convened in Baghdad in 1953.

At the Stuttgart congress in Germany in 1954, Iraq's delegate, Miss Sumayya al-Zahawi, was the only one from among the Arab countries; and at the Copenhagen congress of 1954 Miss Shahzanan Shukurji represented the Iraqi Women's Union. And in all these congresses the Western women came to know the efforts of the Arab woman and the culture and knowledge she has attained.

This is a little of the much that the Iraqi Women's Union does, and I cannot close my word without praising the energy and efforts of the president, Mrs. Asia Tawfiq Wahbi — she is the mainspring, ever at work — who today, with the ladies, is gathering money to build an institute for the society for combating social ills. My admiration goes not only to the activity of this striving, devoted lady, but also to her husband, who not only permits her to carry on these many works, but even helps her in a great number of them. God keep this lady and all the working ladies, and multiply their like.

Until we meet in the coming issue, with a talk on the women's branch of the Iraqi Red Crescent and more...