Women and Youth’s Participation in the Kurdistan Region’s Decision-Making Centers_ Syndicates and Unions as Example

Abstract

This book presents an analytical and field-based study examining the level of women's and youth's participation in decision-making centers in the Kurdistan Region, with a particular focus on professional syndicates and unions as a case study. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative methods, and draws on surveys, interviews, statistical data collection, and document analysis to provide an accurate assessment of the current state of women's and youth's participation and to identify the key challenges they face in decision-making processes. The findings reveal that the participation of women and young people, particularly in leadership positions and decision-making bodies, remains limited. The study also identifies a range of legal, social, institutional, and cultural factors that constitute the principal barriers to their effective participation. Based on these findings, the study offers a set of practical recommendations aimed at strengthening the participation of women and youth, promoting legal reforms, enhancing democratic governance within professional syndicates and unions, and increasing their representation in decision-making positions. This study serves as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, civil society organizations, and all those concerned with gender equality, youth participation, and the reform of democratic institutions in the Kurdistan Reg