Iraqi+Women+Fight+for+Rights

=Iraqi Women Fight for Rights in the New Constitution=

"Tareeq Al-Shaab" (Central organ of the Iraqi Communist Party) No.2, Year 71

 * 4 August 2005**

Iraqi Women Call for Guaranteeing Women Rights in the Constitution
A meeting of women was held on Tuesday )2 August 2005) at the Convention Centre in Baghdad, and the following statement was issued at its conclusion:

"After discussing the issue of women in the Iraqi draft constitution which has been recently put forward for national dialogue, a group of Iraqi women that represents Iraqi societal spectrum, agreed on the need for guaranteeing women rights in the constitution as a n essential part of guaranteeing human rights of all members of Iraqi society, and to achieve the principle of equality for all, irrespective of gender, race, religion, sect, or any other consideration outside the principle of citizenship.

Our aspirations for a democratic future for Iraq, where citizens enjoy equal rights regardless of gender, compel us to put forward the following recommendations:

1. Islamic law is to be considered one of the sources of legislation. 2. Abiding by all international covenants and agreements that regulate human rights and women and children rights, as well as those with special needs, and that they should be regarded as a source for legislation. 3. To continue to abide by the percentage of women representation, such that it is no less than 25% in the three branches of power and decision making centres. This quota should be confined to a limited period. 4. Not to include any clause in the constitution that promotes ideological, religious, nationalist and sectarian bigotry. 5. Prohibiting the practice of any form of violence against women. "

"Tareeq Al-Shaab" (Central organ of the Iraqi Communist Party), No. 110-Year 70


 * 24 July 2005**

Women’s Picket in Baghdad Demanding Rights in Constitution
Activists in the field of women rights, representing a number of NGOs, organized a picket in Furdaws Square in central Baghdad on 22 July 2005.

They called for a constitution that upholds citizenship right, the law, equality, ensuring woman’s human rights, banning all forms of discrimination and violence against women, and guaranteeing women participation at no less than 40% in all positions of decision making, and to endorse international covenants and agreements of human rights.

They rejected specifying a limited time for the women participation quota in decision-making positions. They also expressed concern regarding the possibility of bringing back to life Decree 137 in the Constitution.

From: http://www.iraqcp.org/members3/0050807iwn.htm

Amendment Proposed to National Assembly Concerning Women Legislations
A seminar was held by the Women Empowerment Organisation (WEO) to discuss constitutional concepts and the right of women to reach decision-making positions.

National Assembly member, Mrs Faiza Babakhan, stressed the need for abolishing all forms of discrimination against women, enabling her to take part in political decision making, especially with regard to women rights, and ! 3 enhancing women’s role in laying constitution foundations.

As a lawyer and also a member of the women’s committee in the Assembly, she had presented a number of recommendations to the Ministry of Justice, including a proposal to amend laws that deal with women legis! lations. She said that this issue was referred to the state presidency, which in turn referred it to the National Assembly and its Legal Committee.

She pointed to Article 41(a) in Iraqi Penal Code which gives the man the right to hit his wife, as an example of oppression against women. Article 409 in the Penal Code exposes inequality in! 7 providing legal protection for women.

Another participant, Azhar Alshaarbaf said that all previous interim constitutions in Iraq did not give the woman her full rights. The new constitution should therefore provide guarantees for citizen rights and a mechanism that prevents ! 33 oppression by the state.

Luma Ali Faraj, a lawyer specialised in constitutional law, said that any citizen should have the right to appeal to the constitutional court, the highest legal authority in the country, if the articles in the! constitutions are not adequate.

Suzan Aref discussed the factors that contributed to marginalizing the woman and making her devote her attention to housework, stressing the need for activating her role. She said: “What we want to achieve is to ! 1033 change the stereotype image of the woman in society”. As for the weak participation of women in the political field, she considered this to be due to the lack of skills, and it can be gradually overco! me.

Discussions then followed, and most contributions called for separating religion from the state and giving women the right to reach positions of decision-making through a share of at least 40%.

A number of women organisations and NGOs participated in the seminar, including Amal Society, Baghdad Women Society, Iraqi Women’s League, Voice of Independent Woman, Women Revival Organisation, Rural Women Society, Democratic ! Youth Federation, General Union of Students, as well as the UN mission. At the end of discussions, the recommendations were sent to the constitution drafting committee.

Workshop in Britain On Women and the Constitution
Iraqi Women’s League branch in Britain organized a study workshop as part of its program entitled “Women and the Forthcoming Constitution”. It had earlier held a public meeting, with two speakers: Mrs Bushra Purto and lang1033 Dr Reyadh al-Zuhairy, that dealt with issue concerning the constitution and state administration.

The Workshop, held on 3 July 2005, hosted a group of experts in the field of international and Iraqi law, in addition to figures who are active in culture and media, and activists in women movement lang2049.

Three main topics were discussed: state administration, Personal Status Law, and Labour Law and social security.

Discussions dealt with views about hopes for the new constitution, and the laws that will be governing Iraqi society in general and women in particular. Special attention was paid to women issues in this respect.

The Workshop produced a number of opinions and proposals, that were legally formulated by participating experts, with the aim of presenting then as recommendations to the constitution drafting committee in Iraq. Proposals regarding Personal ! 1033 Status Law and Labour Law will presented to the National Assembly. Iraqi Women’s League branch in Britain will continue its afore-mentioned program with the aim of supporting efforts to draft a secular and modern constitution that is in line with the present era.