WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE URGES IRAQ’S INTERIM GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE GENDER EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE URGES IRAQ’S INTERIM GOVERNMENT

TO ENSURE GENDER EQUALITY AND NON-DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN

The following statement was issued today by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW):

“The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, during its thirty-first session, 6 to 23 July 2004, took note of recent developments in Iraq, in particular the formation of the Iraqi Interim Government working towards the reconstruction of the country and ensuring the enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of all people on the basis of equality of women and men.

“As Iraq is a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Committee has, on previous occasions, expressed concern about the situation of women in Iraq during the war.

“The Committee now urges the Interim Government to do its utmost to ensure equal participation of women in the reconstruction process and full compliance with all provisions of the Convention in the development of the Iraqi society.  The Committee urges the Interim Government to ensure that, as it prepares for elections, article 7 of the Convention be fully adhered to, so that women can exercise their right to vote and to stand for election, on a basis of equality with men. 

“In the same vein, the Committee urges the Interim Government to ensure that the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination of women, as they are enshrined in the Convention, are fully reflected in the entire legal framework of the country, including in the family and personal status laws.  The Committee further emphasizes the urgent need to take special measures to rehabilitate and reintegrate women and children victims of war.

“The Committee calls on the Interim Government of Iraq to ensure that full attention is given to the Committee’s concerns and to the country’s obligations as a State party to the Convention.”

For further information, please contact:  Renata Sivacolundhu, United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.:  1 212 963 2932, e-mail:  sivacolundhu@un.org.

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