Independent Women's Forum - Research Areas > Iraq:News Releases

PRESS RELEASE: Economic Empowerment of Women in Iraq

Tue, 20 Jun 2006 00:00:00 EDT

The Independent Women's Forum Hosts a Discussion with a Delegation of Iraqi Women on Women Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday June 20, 2006

(Washington, DC) "The formation of the permanent national unity government in Iraq this year is a critical juncture in the creation of a stable democracy that can secure and safeguard Iraqi women's rights," said Michelle D. Bernard, president and CEO of the Independent Women's Forum (IWF). Today, IWF hosted a delegation of Iraqi women that included Dhuha Rouhi, president of Women Entrepreneurs Association and Jenan Mubarak, president of the Iraqi Center for Women Rehabilitation and Employment. Both are delegates to the U.S.-Arab Economic Forum.

"This event was unique in that it brought successful Iraqi and American entrepreneurs together to forge lasting networks that will enable them to have a continuing dialogue about the challenges Iraqi business women face women today and how American entrepreneurs can assist them in the future," Bernard continued.

The discussion centered on issues facing women entrepreneurs in the business world and in politics both in the U.S. and Iraq. The discussion also focused on efforts to mobilize Iraqi women to ensure that women's rights are upheld in light of Article 41 of the Iraqi Constitution which threatens to replace Iraq's civil Personal Status Code with shari'a law. IWF president, Michelle D. Bernard led the discussion, which featured Kate Carr, president of Cardinal Bank, The Honorable Carol Crawford, former member of the International Trade Commission and Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice, and Barbara Harding, Esq., of Kirkland & Ellis.

"The economic empowerment of women in Iraq is essential to the nation-building process," said Bernard. "It is critical that the U.S. continues to extend support through such coalition building and the exchange of ideas between Iraqi and American women business leaders," said Bernard.

Women's Rights at Stake as Work Continues on Iraq's Draft Constitution

Tue, 16 Aug 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Contact: Christie Hobbs
Phone: (202) 349-5889

WASHINGTON, DC -- The Independent Women's Forum urges Iraqi leaders to recognize and protect women�s rights as the constitutional drafters continue their crucial work.

Yesterday, Iraq's National Assembly agreed to extend the deadline for approval of the draft constitution by seven days to August 22.

Of particular concern is the extent to which Islam will be a source of Iraqi law in the draft constitution. The imposition of shari'a, or Islamic law, as the main source of Iraq's constitutional law would be a setback to democracy in Iraq, particularly for women. "In order for democratic institutions to succeed in Iraq, women must have the constitutional right to fully participate in the political, economic, and social structures of their country," said Michelle Bernard, IWF senior vice president.

If sharia is a primary source of Iraq's constitutional law, girls as young as 9 years old could be forced to marry and women could lose inheritance rights, be denied custody of their children, be subjected to their family's approval to pursue academic studies or work, and be prohibited from holding positions of power.

IWF has been working with organizations like the American Islamic Congress, the Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq, Women for a Free Iraq, and the More than Once Source Campaign, among others, to raise international public awareness of the importance of women's rights in the constitution.

"We have seen through our work that Iraqi women have an unwavering commitment to freedom and the principles and practice of liberal democracy and we will continue to support their efforts during this critical time in Iraq's history," continued Bernard.

Iraqi Women Fighting to Save Rights in Draft Constitution

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Contact: Christie Hobbs
Phone: (202) 349-5889

WASHINGTON, DC -- Representatives of two women's groups fighting to preserve women's rights in Iraq's new constitution will be in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Aug. 4, to rally support for their cause.

Zainab al-Suwaij, executive director of the American Islamic Congress, and Basma Fakri, president of the Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq, will appear at a "Newsmaker" event at the National Press Club, at noon on Aug. 4 in the Zenger Room. (For more details, please see the NPC advisory below.) They are the U.S. representatives for the Iraq-based More Than One Source campaign and the Iraqi Women's Network (Amal), respectively. They will also meet with government officials and NGOs.

Women in Iraq are protesting language in the draft constitution that makes Islam the sole source for Iraqi law, opening the way for the imposition of Islamic family law, or Shari'a. Since the 1950's, family issues have been subject to civil law, but the new constitution, as currently drafted, would make it subject to clerical courts -- a big step backwards for Iraqi women. Under Shari'a, women can be denied custody rights of their children; they can be subjected to their families approval to pursue academic studies or work; a woman can forced by her family to wear a headscarf or other clothing, and, most perilous for Iraq's future democracy, women can be prohibited from holding positions of power.

The deadline for approving the constitution is Aug. 15. Leaders of the campaign in Iraq include Rend al-Rahim, the former Iraqi representative to the U.S., and Safia al-Suhail, Iraq's ambassador to Egypt and known to American audiences for her touching hug with a mother who lost her son in Iraq at the last State of the Union address.

The Iraqi Women's Educational Institute (IWEI), a joint project of the American Islamic Congress, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, and the Independent Women's Forum, supports efforts by Iraqi women leaders to establish equal rights for women in the new constitution, and will participate in the Press Club event.

Click here to read Basma Fakri's speech.

For more information, or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Christie Hobbs
Independent Women's Forum
(202) 349-5889

Tanya Gilly or Bill McCarthy
Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.
(202) 207-0190

Kathryn Coughlin
American Islamic Congress
(617) 621-1511

NPC Advisory:

National Press Club "NOON NEWSMAKER" News Conference
Thursday, August 4, 2005, Noon
National Press Club (Zenger Room)

The Executive Director of the American Islamic Congress, MRS. ZAINAB AL-SUWAIJ, and The President of the Women's Alliance for a Democratic Iraq, MRS. BASMA FAKRI will discuss oppositition to language in Iraq's draft constitution that would make Islam the sole source for Iraqi law.

Mmes. Al-Suwaij and Fakri will speak about what Iraqi women's groups are doing to protect women's rights in the new constitution, how the U.S. and non-governmental organizations can help, and what Islamic law (Sharia) means for Iraqi women, who are approximately 60% of the population. Also present will be representatives of US NGOs working on democracy and women's rights in Iraq.

IWF Hosts Discussion with a Delegation of Iraqi Women on the Iraqi Constitution and Women's Rights

Wed, 20 Jul 2005 00:00:00 EDT

Contact: Christie Hobbs
Phone: (202) 349-5889

WASHINGTON, DC -- "This is one of the most critical periods of time in the evolution of democracy and women's human rights in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein," said Michelle D. Bernard, senior vice president of the Independent Women's Forum. Today, IWF hosted a delegation of Iraqi women that included Iraq's Minister of State for Women's Affairs, Dr. Azhar Abdul Karim Al Shakly, members of Iraq's Constitutional Committee, Iraqi women legal experts, and women's rights advocates.

"As the August 15 deadline for the adoption of a draft constitution approaches, it is not only critical that the rights of women are protected in Iraq's new constitution, but that mechanisms are developed for implementing and enforcing those rights once a new constitution is approved," Bernard continued.

The discussion centered on women's rights and the Iraqi Constitution and was led by IWF senior vice president, Michelle D. Bernard and featured Zainab al-Suwaij, executive director of the American Islamic Congress; Carole Basri, an adjunct professor of corporate law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law; Lisa Davis, deputy director of programs and director of the RIGHTS program at Freedom House; and Mary Larkin, director of international programs at Street Law, Inc.

"Iraqi women must not only resolve amongst themselves profound questions such as the role of women and religion in their constitution, the global community must support Iraqi women in their struggle to codify, implement, and enforce women's human rights in their nation," said Bernard. "In order for democratic institutions to succeed in Iraq and the Arab Middle East, women must have the constitutional right to fully participate in the political, economic, and social structures of their country," added Bernard.

The Iraqi Parliament has until August 15 to adopt a draft constitution, which will be put to a nationwide referendum by mid-October.

Click here to read a news release about IWF's historic Iraqi women leaders conference, held in April in Jordan.

IWF Holds Historic Iraqi Women Leaders Conference

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 00:00:00 EDT

DEAD SEA, JORDAN --Pro-democracy Iraqi women leaders from every corner of Iraq traveled to Jordan to participate in a historic five-day conference on the principles and practice of democracy and women's rights sponsored by the Independent Women's Forum and its partners in this endeavor, the American Islamic Congress and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies. The Iraqi Women Leaders Conference, held from April 9-13, 2005 was part of two independent, but complementary programs that are being implemented by IWF and its partners over a twelve month period through a grant IWF received through the US Department of State's $10 million Iraqi Women's Democracy Initiative.

"Arguably, this gathering of pro-democracy Iraqi women from north to south and east to west was one of the most monumental events to occur among Iraqi women since the toppling of Saddam Hussein and Iraq's January 30 elections," said Bernard. "Over a period of a week, Kurds, Sunni's, Shiia, Christians, and Jews worked side by side gaining not only a better understanding of the universal principles of democracy, but of one another. IWF is honored to play a small part in Iraq's burgeoning women's human rights movement and its historic transition to democracy," continued Bernard.

Sponsored by the Iraqi Women's Educational Institute (IWEI), a non-governmental organization formed by IWF, the American Islamic Congress (AIC) and the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, the participants were selected on the basis of their leadership qualities and commitment to democracy. More than 1,300 women throughout Iraq applied and interviewed for the program, as their country prepared for its first democratically held election in 35 years. Participants represented almost every ethnic and religious group in Iraq. Several members of the U.S. Congress, prominent academics, keynote speakers, and staff from around the world also participated in the event.

Highlights of the Conference

On days one and two of the conference, two Congressional delegations joined the conference. Led by Representatives Kay Granger (R-TX) and Tom Osborne (R-NE), two of the three co-chairs of the Iraqi Women's Caucus of the U.S. Congress, members of Congress, including Representatives Granger and Osborne, Susan Davis (D-CA), Judy Biggert (R-IL), Lincoln Davis (D-TN), Randy Neugbauer (R-TX), Bob Beauprez (R-CO), Mark Udall (D-CO), and Jeb Bradley (R-NH) taught a course called "Democracy in Action." The participants engaged in simulations that allowed them to learn how to make effective arguments in the public policy arena. Representatives from the US Departments of State and Defense as well as the US Embassy in Baghdad observed the conference.

Other sessions included constitutional design and federalism, universal principles of democracy, free media and democracy, women in leadership, economic freedom, fighting corruption, and elections, political parties and women. An entire day was devoted to discussing building democracy in Iraq. The challenges of democratization, Iraq's experience with democracy, what the U.S. role in Iraqi democracy should be from the perspective of Iraqis, and democracy and religion were also discussed.

Keynote speakers included Shafeeq Ghabra, president of the American University of Kuwait, Baroness Emma Nicholson of Winterbourne, vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament and a member of the British House of Lords, and the renowned human rights activist, Saad Eddin Ibrahim.

Faculty members included Hashim al-Jazairy, who in 2004 became dean of the College of Law at Yarmouk University in Jordan and is an expert in commercial and maritime law; Ahmed al-Rahim, an Iraqi-American who has taught Arabic and Islamic Studies at Yale University, New York University, and Harvard University and has published on the history of Islamic philosophy, the question of Islam and democracy, and political transition in Iraq; Carole Basri, an adjunct professor of corporate law at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law who has worked extensively on business, anti-corruption, and transparency issues in Iraq and helped draft legislation on these issues; Faleh Abdul Jabar, who is a research fellow at the School of Politics and Sociology, Birkbeck College, University of London and, since 1994, has directed the Iraqi Cultural Forum Research Group at Birbeck College; Mary Larkin, the director of International Programs at Street Law, Inc., and provides technical assistance to NGOs, women's groups, law enforcement agencies, legislators, lawyer and judge associations, and government ministries to design and implement practical programs for the average citizen; Richard Matland, a professor of political science at the University of Houston and whose work emphasizes a comparative institutions approach, looking at how differing institutions can affect women's ability to gain access to positions of political power; Hedieh Mirahmadi, a visiting scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, where she directs a study on Political Islam and Global Security; Tom Palmer, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and director of Cato University who teaches and lectures about such topics as federalism, political economy, constitutional theory, and law and rights at numerous universities in Europe and North and South America, as well as in Iraq and other countries; Michael Rubin, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and editor of the Middle East Quarterly and has worked as a staff advisor for Iran and Iraq in the Office of the Secretary of Defense; Ann Stone, founder of The Stone Group, Inc., and currently a member of the boards of the National Women's History Museum, The Washington Center (Women as Leaders), Campaigns and Elections Magazine, and Influence Magazine; Marguerite Hoxie Sullivan, executive director of the U.S. National Commission for UNESCO who has extensive experience as a journalist, public affairs and public relations practitioner, and executive in government and international nongovernmental organizations (NGO) and extensive background working in communications, education, cultural, women's, and democracy issues; and Ala Talabani, co-founder of Women for a Free Iraq and the Iraqi Women's High Council, which drafts policies that ensure that women are fairly represented in the new Iraq. Finally, it is with great pride that we note that one of our faculty members, Munther al-Fadhal, a practicing lawyer in Baghdad and Kurdistan, was elected to Iraq's National Assembly and selected as a member of Iraq's Constitution Committee.

"The willingness of so many Iraqi women to risk their lives to participate in this historic Iraqi Women Leaders Program clearly demonstrates an unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy," said Michelle D. Bernard. "All Iraqis now have a chance to become full participants in the economic, political, and social fabric of a free and democratic Iraq," Bernard continued.

IWF Lauds Courageous Women of Iraq for Record Participation in Election

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 00:00:00 EST

Contact: Louise Filkins
Phone: (202) 419-1820

WASHINGTON, DC-- The Independent Women's Forum today commends the women of Iraq for their courage in going to the polls in large numbers and thereby helping to ensure an unprecedented turnout for that country's first free election since 1953.

Preliminary returns suggest that participation was as high as 60 percent. There is no breakdown according to sex yet, but it is clear that there was heavy participation by women voters.

"This is a moment of undeniable importance for all Iraqis, particularly Iraqi women. Thousands of Iraqi women defied threats of violence, insurgent attacks on polling stations, suicide bombers and calls to boycott the election in order to cast their votes. The seeds of democracy have been firmly planted and the voices of Iraqi women will be heard," said Michelle D. Bernard, senior vice president of the Independent Women's Forum. "The scenes of women throughout Iraq proudly holding up ink stained thumbs demonstrating they voted shows an unwavering commitment to freedom and democracy. All Iraqis now have a chance to become full participants in the economic, political and social fabric of a free and democratic Iraq," said Bernard.

This historic election was to select 275 members of a Transitional National Assembly that will formulate a constitution and set up a permanent government by August 15, 2005. The Transitional National Assembly also will select a president and two deputies to succeed the interim administration. "As Iraq takes its next step towards liberal democracy, the international community must support Iraq's government in advancing individual rights for all Iraqis. The fundamental rights of Iraqi women, religious and ethnic minorities must be protected," said Bernard.