A/HRC/34/53/Add.1 74. The national Parliament reserves only 8 of its 328 seats for minorities, and these are available only for some communities (Christians have 5 seats and Sabea-Mandeans, Shabaks and Yazidis have 1 seat each). Turkmen, the third-largest ethnic group in Iraq, do not have any reserved seats in the Iraqi Parliament. The Government noted, however, that Turkmen are well represented in political blocs in the Parliament and hold numerous government posts. Following the establishment of the Kurdistan Region and the adoption of the 2005 Constitution, which recognizes Iraq as a federal State, representatives of some minority groups, including Turkmen and Yazidis, called for greater political autonomy and control over their affairs in their regions as the only way to ensure protection of their rights. 75. Minorities have long faced discrimination and exclusion from certain labour markets, including employment in government and public sector posts. Such exclusion must be addressed, including through implementation of affirmative action policies where necessary, to ensure that Iraqi institutions better reflect the diversity within society. The Special Rapporteur stated her concern that the gains made by women in Iraq, including the participation of minority women, in recent decades was being deeply eroded by the current crisis and displacement of communities. The Special Rapporteur is especially worried about girls’ access to education, which has reportedly decreased. D. Disaggregated data 76. The question of the relative numerical size of some populations is politically sensitive in Iraq and has political and resource implications. It is nevertheless essential that accurate data be collected and recorded as soon as possible. Estimates suggest that the population may have doubled since the last full census was conducted in 1987. 16 The currently available data on population numbers of the different ethnic and religious communities are grossly inaccurate, owing to the events that have taken place since the last census. These events have led to large numbers of people relocating or leaving the country as well as civilian and combatant deaths numbering in the hundreds of thousands. 17 Consequently, the existing census data should not be relied upon, as they offer only a poor estimate of the size and location of minority communities in Iraq. While a new census is in the planning phase, it is unlikely to be held in the near future in the light of the ongoing crisis. 77. Before a full census becomes possible, it is of the upmost importance that comprehensive mapping take place to provide a better understanding of the demographic composition of the various regions of the country and the trends of displacement and migration, and to have a proper assessment of the socioeconomic conditions of the various groups. This will enable targeted humanitarian, human rights and development programmes to be designed. Such mapping could be carried out or monitored by an independent organization, with the full involvement of minority community members. Disaggregated data will help to ensure that ethnic and religious groups benefit from assistance and, where appropriate, affirmative action programmes. 16 17 A partial census was conducted in 1997, which excluded the three Kurdish provinces of Dohuk, Erbil and Sulaimaniya. Some estimates put the total civilian death toll at more than 174,000, with the total number of violent deaths, including of combatants, at up to 242,000 since 2003. See Iraq Body Count, available from www.iraqbodycount.org. 19