BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Council of Representatives voted Dec. 6 to merge the committee on human rights with the committee on women, family and childhood. Multiple political and parliamentary figures described the formation of one committee on human rights, women, family and childhood as a dangerous scheme that will marginalize women and deny them access to the cabinet. Women currently make up 25% of the Iraqi Parliament.

Only three out of the new committee's seven members are female, as many female lawmakers refused to join it in anger over the merger. The dispute has also so far prevented the election of its president and vice president.

The now-defunct committee consisted of seven female members. Although its work was limited in the previous parliamentary terms, it fought gendered abuse including underage and forced marriages. It also documented the suffering of displaced, divorced and impoverished women.

In 2015, former Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi annulled a few ministries, including the Ministry of State for Women's Affairs, in an attempt to reduce the state expenditures against the backdrop of declining oil prices and a financial crisis. The UN warned against the move because dedicated ministries are needed to address violence against women and protect them in a countries afflicted by war and conflict. There was no reply from the council of ministers.