The meeting comes as Iraq scrambles to meet an Aug. 15 deadline to draft a constitution amid concerns that women will be marginalised if stringent Islamic law is enshrined in the text.

The conference, organised by Spanish humanitarian organisation Movement for Peace, Disarmament and Liberty (MPDL) with the help of the British charity Oxfam and the United Nations, will issue a set of recommendations when it concludes on Tuesday.

“It is vital that policy-makers in Iraq listen and act upon the needs of women and ensure that women's rights are protected,” said Audrey Palama, head of mission of MPDL-Iraq.

“Iraq is at a crucial point in its history and women are playing a key role as members of civil society organisations, holding dialogues with diverse groups and articulating the needs of women in the country,” Palama said.

Recommendations emerging from the conference will be submitted to the Iraqi national assembly as well as the constitutional drafting committee.

The constitution must be put to a national referendum on Oct. 15 ahead of national elections to choose a fully mandated government by Dec. 15.

One-quarter of the seats in the new national assembly were reserved for women and six women are members of the 36-seat government of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari.

The Jordan times
Tuesday, July 19, 2005