Nisrin Barwari
Encyclopedia
Nesreen Barwari was a Kurdish
Official. She was born in Baghdad
to a Kurdish family and was imprisoned at age fourteen due to her brother's involvement with the Kurdish movement. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering at the University of Baghdad
in 1991. She served with the United Nations local office in Iraqi Kurdistan
from 1991 to 1998 . After obtaining a master of public administration
at the Harvard Kennedy School in 1999, she served as minister of reconstruction and development in KRG
until 2003.
She was appointed Iraq
's Minister for Municipalities & Public Works in September 2003, the only woman minister on the interim Iraqi Governing Council
. In June 2004, she was reappointed minister in the Iraqi Transitional Government
. In January 2005 she was elected to the Iraq National Assembly, but resigned her membership to continue as minister.
Berwari has displayed concern for the rights of women in Iraq. In January 2004, she joined protests against Resolution 137 of the Iraqi Governing Council that would have curtailed women's rights by making Iraq's personal status law subject to religious doctrine. As minister in Baghdad she survived assassination attempts.
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
Official. She was born in Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
to a Kurdish family and was imprisoned at age fourteen due to her brother's involvement with the Kurdish movement. She obtained a Bachelor of Science in architectural engineering at the University of Baghdad
University of Baghdad
The University of Baghdad is the largest university in Iraq and the second largest Arab university following the University of Cairo.- Nomenclature :Both University of Baghdad and Baghdad University are used interchangeably....
in 1991. She served with the United Nations local office in Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan
Iraqi Kurdistan or Kurdistan Region is an autonomous region of Iraq. It borders Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, Syria to the west and the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Arbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr...
from 1991 to 1998 . After obtaining a master of public administration
Master of Public Administration
The Master of Public Administration is a professional post-graduate degree in Public Administration. The MPA program prepares individuals to serve as managers in the executive arm of local, state/provincial, and federal/national government, and increasingly in nongovernmental organization and...
at the Harvard Kennedy School in 1999, she served as minister of reconstruction and development in KRG
KRG
KRG may refer to:*Kurdistan Regional Government, in Northern Iraq*Kativik Regional Government, in Northern Quebec, Canada...
until 2003.
She was appointed Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
's Minister for Municipalities & Public Works in September 2003, the only woman minister on the interim Iraqi Governing Council
Iraqi Governing Council
The Iraqi Governing Council was the provisional government of Iraq from July 13, 2003 to June 1, 2004. It was established by and served under the United States-led Coalition Provisional Authority...
. In June 2004, she was reappointed minister in the Iraqi Transitional Government
Iraqi Transitional Government
The Iraqi Transitional Government was the government of Iraq from May 3rd, 2005, when it replaced the Iraqi Interim Government, until May 20th, 2006, when it was replaced by the first permanent government....
. In January 2005 she was elected to the Iraq National Assembly, but resigned her membership to continue as minister.
Berwari has displayed concern for the rights of women in Iraq. In January 2004, she joined protests against Resolution 137 of the Iraqi Governing Council that would have curtailed women's rights by making Iraq's personal status law subject to religious doctrine. As minister in Baghdad she survived assassination attempts.