Hillary Rodham Clinton, Senator for New York: Senator Clinton Calls on President Bush to Address the Deteriorating Condition of Iraq’s Women

February 13, 2004

Senator Clinton Calls on President Bush to Address the Deteriorating Condition of Iraq’s Women

Washington, DC - In a letter to President Bush, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called on him to urge the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to take immediate steps to address the deteriorating condition of Iraq's women.

"With the demise of Saddam's regime, women have a new opportunity to participate in Iraqi society," Senator Clinton wrote. "However, women currently participate only marginally in the many important decisions being made by the Governing Council, constitutional committee, and other government entities working in coalition with the CPA. There are many troublesome reports from Iraqi women themselves on systematic exclusion from leadership positions in the country."

In November, Senator Clinton traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq with fellow Senate Armed Services Member Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). During her trip she met with Iraqi women leaders to discuss greater protections for women's rights in Iraq.

On Thursday evening, Senators Clinton and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) hosted a special screening and reception in honor of Golden Globe winning film "OSAMA" directed by Siddiq Barmak. The film is about a 12-year-old Afghan girl and her mother lose their jobs when the Taliban close the hospital where they work. The Taliban have also forbidden women to leave their homes without a legal companion. With her husband and brother dead there is no one left to support the family, and without being able to leave home for food the mother is left with nowhere to turn. Feeling she has no other choice, she disguises her daughter as a boy. Now called Osama, the girl embarks on a terrifying and confusing journey to survive as she tries to keep the Taliban from finding out her true identity. Inspired by a true story, Osama is the first entirely Afghan film shot since the rise and fall of the Taliban.

A copy of Senator Clinton's letter is attached:

February 12, 2004

The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

I am writing to make you aware of my deep concerns about the deteriorating condition of Iraq's women and to urge that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) take immediate action on their behalf.

As you are aware, the women of Iraq make up over half of the country's population. The pool of Iraqi women leaders is among the strongest in the region; there is a wealth of well-educated, qualified, experienced leaders to draw upon and Iraq has a long tradition of women in public life. However, the quality of their health care, education, income, and liberty deteriorated during Saddam Hussein's regime.

With the demise of Saddam's regime, women have a new opportunity to participate in Iraqi society. However, women currently participate only marginally in the many important decisions being made by the Governing Council, constitutional committee, and other government entities working in coalition with the CPA. There are many troublesome reports from Iraqi women themselves on systematic exclusion from leadership positions in the country.

A December 18, 2003 letter delivered to Ambassador Bremer, signed by a dozen Iraqi human rights and women's rights activists, outlined the dangers associated with the absence of the women's voice in the government. Namely, these Iraqi women feel it has led to women's rights being neglected, raising concerns about the future of women in Iraq and the CPA's commitment to protecting their rights.

The CPA must take immediate steps to ensure the full participation and representation of Iraq's women in the interim and permanent government. The United States also must work to encourage language that ensures core human rights in the Iraqi constitution, including a separate acknowledgement of rights for women. Simple verbal assurances that the United States and the CPA care about the rights of women in Iraq are not enough to ensure that Iraqi women are able to fully participate in Iraqi society.

It is critically important that the CPA take immediate action prior to the handover of power scheduled this summer. The priority that the United States places on rights for women in Iraq conveys a broader message to the international community about our commitment to human rights and the importance of full participation by all citizens in order to create a successful democracy.

The United States has supported specific efforts to ensure women's participation in higher government office and elected bodies in Afghanistan. The same opportunity exists in Iraq. While we applaud the CPA for meeting with Iraqi women leaders, urging the Governing Council to appoint women to leadership positions, and raising awareness of the importance of women's participation regionally, this is not enough.

Unfortunately, there have been many missed opportunities to actively support and ensure the inclusion of highly qualified women in the process. When I was in Iraq in November, I heard concerns from several Iraqi women about efforts to limit their participation in Iraq's political future. The transitional plan negotiated by the CPA and the Governing Council for 18 regional caucuses to select a provisional government did not include protections for full participation of women. It is troubling that CPA did not address the miscarriage of democracy when the Governing Council voted on a replacement for Dr. Akila al-Hashimi, while the two female Governing Council members, Raja Habib Khuzai and Songul Chapouk, were away at a World Bank conference on women's issues.

Another major setback for Iraq's women was the Governing Council's decision to pass Resolution 137, which would threaten existing legal protections for the rights of women under the Iraqi civil code and place them under the jurisdiction of Shari'a law as it applies to family law for Muslims.

Section 2217 of the Emergency Supplemental Law passed by Congress in November makes clear that U.S. activities in Iraq should include the perspectives and advice of women's organizations, promote high level participation of women in future legislative bodies and ministries, and ensure that human rights for women are upheld in any constitution or legal institution. Pursuant to Section 2217 of the Emergency Supplemental Law passed by Congress in November, we urge and expect you to use your authority to protect the promise to every Iraqi citizen that their fundamental freedom is inalienable.

The plan for organizing the elections in 2004 for a temporary government and a temporary constitution require close scrutiny by the CPA in order to ensure that Iraqi women are able to fully participate in Iraqi society. Too much is at stake to waste the experience, intelligence, and leadership that all Iraqis offer, men and women alike.

I respectfully request that you update me on the steps the CPA is taking to comply with Emergency Supplemental Section 2217 with respect to women, and specifically to guarantee women are participating in leadership positions in the interim caucuses and the constitutional committee. I offer my assistance in identifying concrete measures that could help facilitate women's participation. Thank you for your careful and immediate attention to this critical priority.

Sincerely yours,

Hillary Rodham Clinton

CC: L. Paul Bremer III Administrator - Coalition Provisional Authority

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	February 13, 2004 Senator Clinton Calls on President Bush to Address the Deteriorating Condition of Iraq’s Women Washington, DC - In a letter to President Bush, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton called on him to urge the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) to take immediate steps to address the deteriorating condition of Iraq's women. "With the demise of Saddam's regime, women have a new opportunity to participate in Iraqi society," Senator Clinton wrote. "However, women currently participate only marginally in the many important decisions being made by the Governing Council, constitutional committee, and other government entities working in coalition with the CPA. There are many troublesome reports from Iraqi women themselves on systematic exclusion from leadership positions in the country." In November, Senator Clinton traveled to Afghanistan and Iraq with fellow Senate Armed Services Member Senator Jack Reed (D-RI). During her trip she met with Iraqi women leaders to discuss greater protections for women's rights in Iraq. On Thursday evening, Senators Clinton and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX) hosted a special screening and reception in honor of Golden Globe winning film "OSAMA" directed by Siddiq Barmak. The film is about a 12-year-old Afghan girl and her mother lose their jobs when the Taliban close the hospital where they work. The Taliban have also forbidden women to leave their homes without a legal companion. With her husband and brother dead there is no one left to support the family, and without being able to leave home for food the mother is left with nowhere to turn. Feeling she has no other choice, she disguises her daughter as a boy. Now called Osama, the girl embarks on a terrifying and confusing journey to survive as she tries to keep the Taliban from finding out her true identity. Inspired by a true story, Osama is the first entirely Afghan film shot since the rise and fall of the Taliban. A copy of Senator Clinton's letter is attached: February 12, 2004 The Honorable George W. Bush President of the United States Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: I am writing to make you aware of my deep concerns about the deteriorating condition of Iraq's women and to urge that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) take immediate action on their behalf. As you are aware, the women of Iraq make up over half of the country's population. The pool of Iraqi women leaders is among the strongest in the region; there is a wealth of well-educated, qualified, experienced leaders to draw upon and Iraq has a long tradition of women in public life. However, the quality of their health care, education, income, and liberty deteriorated during Saddam Hussein's regime. With the demise of Saddam's regime, women have a new opportunity to participate in Iraqi society. However, women currently participate only marginally in the many important decisions being made by the Governing Council, constitutional committee, and other government entities working in coalition with the CPA. There are many troublesome reports from Iraqi women themselves on systematic exclusion from leadership positions in the country. A December 18, 2003 letter delivered to Ambassador Bremer, signed by a dozen Iraqi human rights and women's rights activists, outlined the dangers associated with the absence of the women's voice in the government. Namely, these Iraqi women feel it has led to women's rights being neglected, raising concerns about the future of women in Iraq and the CPA's commitment to protecting their rights. The CPA must take immediate steps to ensure the full participation and representation of Iraq's women in the interim and permanent government. The United States also must work to encourage language that ensures core human rights in the Iraqi constitution, including a separate acknowledgement of rights for women. Simple verbal assurances that the United States and the CPA care about the rights of women in Iraq are not enough to ensure that Iraqi women are able to fully participate in Iraqi society. It is critically important that the CPA take immediate action prior to the handover of power scheduled this summer. The priority that the United States places on rights for women in Iraq conveys a broader message to the international community about our commitment to human rights and the importance of full participation by all citizens in order to create a successful democracy. The United States has supported specific efforts to ensure women's participation in higher government office and elected bodies in Afghanistan. The same opportunity exists in Iraq. While we applaud the CPA for meeting with Iraqi women leaders, urging the Governing Council to appoint women to leadership positions, and raising awareness of the importance of women's participation regionally, this is not enough. Unfortunately, there have been many missed opportunities to actively support and ensure the inclusion of highly qualified women in the process. When I was in Iraq in November, I heard concerns from several Iraqi women about efforts to limit their participation in Iraq's political future. The transitional plan negotiated by the CPA and the Governing Council for 18 regional caucuses to select a provisional government did not include protections for full participation of women. It is troubling that CPA did not address the miscarriage of democracy when the Governing Council voted on a replacement for Dr. Akila al-Hashimi, while the two female Governing Council members, Raja Habib Khuzai and Songul Chapouk, were away at a World Bank conference on women's issues. Another major setback for Iraq's women was the Governing Council's decision to pass Resolution 137, which would threaten existing legal protections for the rights of women under the Iraqi civil code and place them under the jurisdiction of Shari'a law as it applies to family law for Muslims. Section 2217 of the Emergency Supplemental Law passed by Congress in November makes clear that U.S. activities in Iraq should include the perspectives and advice of women's organizations, promote high level participation of women in future legislative bodies and ministries, and ensure that human rights for women are upheld in any constitution or legal institution. Pursuant to Section 2217 of the Emergency Supplemental Law passed by Congress in November, we urge and expect you to use your authority to protect the promise to every Iraqi citizen that their fundamental freedom is inalienable. The plan for organizing the elections in 2004 for a temporary government and a temporary constitution require close scrutiny by the CPA in order to ensure that Iraqi women are able to fully participate in Iraqi society. Too much is at stake to waste the experience, intelligence, and leadership that all Iraqis offer, men and women alike. I respectfully request that you update me on the steps the CPA is taking to comply with Emergency Supplemental Section 2217 with respect to women, and specifically to guarantee women are participating in leadership positions in the interim caucuses and the constitutional committee. I offer my assistance in identifying concrete measures that could help facilitate women's participation. Thank you for your careful and immediate attention to this critical priority. Sincerely yours, Hillary Rodham Clinton CC: L. Paul Bremer III Administrator - Coalition Provisional Authority ###