WOMEN IN POST-CONFLICT IRAQ

Early day motion 1062, tabled 10 April 2003 by Joan Ruddock (Labour). Signed by 131 members.

That this House notes that while Iraqi women have suffered enormously under Saddam Hussein's regime as victims of political rape and torture, as mothers unable to provide for their children and as wives who lost their husbands, nonetheless they make up more than 20 per cent. of the Iraqi workforce holding a range of professional and technical jobs, and are not subject to any state religious laws or dress code; observes that while the Iraqi parliament was a sham, almost 20 per cent. of its members were women; further notes that in Northern Iraq Kurdish women travel freely, hold high level economic and political positions including as judges and regional government ministers; believes that in post conflict situations women are particularly vulnerable to violence and rape and are frequently excluded from the political forums set up by the international community; expresses concern that there appears to be no significant involvement of women in US plans to consult on an Iraq Interim Authority and that the UK has appointed a male cleric to oversee the running of Basra; and calls on the Government to listen to the views of Iraqi women's organisations in London who have called for a secular democracy with at least 40 per cent. women and 40 per cent. men to be included in the Iraqi Interim Authority, for a gender balanced team to draw up the new constitution (as was done in South Africa) and for a new legal code that would guarantee the rights of women in post Saddam Iraq.

Signatures by party: Labour 90, Liberal Democrat 20, Labour/Co-operative 7, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 3, Scottish National Party 2, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.