WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE ISSUES STATEMENT ON WOMEN IN IRAQ

WOMEN’S ANTI-DISCRIMINATION COMMITTEE ISSUES STATEMENT ON WOMEN IN IRAQ

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women, during its thirty-third session, held from 5 to 22 July 2005, took note of the preparation of a draft of a new Constitution for Iraq.

As Iraq has been a State party to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women since 1986, the Committee has, on previous occasions, expressed concern about the situation of women in Iraq and has called on 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 Iraqi society.

The Committee now urges the Government of Iraq to ensure that the principles of gender equality and non-discrimination, as they are enshrined in the Convention, are fully reflected in the new Constitution of Iraq which will become the basis for the entire legal framework of the country, including the family and personal status laws.  The Committee further emphasizes once again the urgent need to take special measures to rehabilitate and reintegrate women and children victims of war.

The Committee calls on the 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.

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