The Iraqi Constitutional Committee is scheduled to complete a final draft of the Constitution by August 15, 2005. Most Iraqis view the Constitution as a critical document that will create a foundation for a stable democracy and establish the full and equal rights of all citizens. In attempt to create a safe forum for women's advocates and members of Iraq's Constitutional Committee to meet in person, share views and craft a set of recommendations on the Constitution for the full Committee, Women for Women International convened a conference in Jordan in late June.Participants expressed a variety of viewpoints on issues such as how to define gender equality in the Constitution, the relationship between religion and state, the need for quotas to guarantee women's representation in the legislature and the constitutional drafting process.The major areas of debate highlighted below represent key issues discussed at the conference, which led to a series of final recommendations. The recommendations, summarized below, reflect the views of a majority of participants.
Click here to read the full report and recommendations
Major Areas of Debate
- Constitutional Timetable: Some participants strongly urged that the timetable for drafting and approving the Constitution be extended by up to six months, while others argued that an extension would only increase Iraq's instability and violence. Participation of Women in the Constitution-Drafting Process: Some attendees advocated for greater participation for women in the constitutional drafting process; others defended the current composition of the Constitutional Committee. Language of the Constitution: Some participants argued that the language of the Constitution should specifically articulate the rights of men and of women and others believed the language should refer to citizens collectively. Role of Islam: Participants debated the role of Islam in the Constitution.
- Quotas for Women's Political Participation: Participants argued about whether the current quota for the percentage of women in the National Assembly should be increased and whether it should eventually be phased out.
Summary of Recommendations on the Constitution
- Preamble: There should be a strong preamble to the Constitution that establishes a vision for a united and democratic Iraq.
- Supremacy of the Constitution: The Constitution should be acknowledged as the supreme law of the country.
Individual Rights
- Citizenship: The Constitution should stipulate a single Iraqi citizenship that includes both men and women.
- Bill of Rights: There should be a bill of rights that enshrines the rights of all Iraqi people and affirms the values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
Balance of Powers
- Federalism: There shall be a central federal government as well as local governments, which should be established for administrative reasons, based upon geography, and not on the basis of ethnicity or other reasons. Judiciary: There should be an independent Supreme Constitutional Court that will ensure redress for the violation of constitutional rights by the state. Religion: Islam is the official religion of the country, but all other religions shall be respected. Commissions: The Constitution shall include a mechanism for creating commissions that include those dedicated to human rights and gender equality.
- Gender Equality:
- Quotas: The Constitution should guarantee at least 40 percent of the seats in the legislature for women.
- Monitoring: At every level of government, there should be an advisor to monitor the protection of women's rights and ensure gender equality and women's access to government service
|
