Meg's Update: Violence Against Women: Achievements/Challenges

Ambassador Al-Bayati, Permanent Mission of Iraq to the UN was the keynote speaker at today's CSW56 Meeting. His appointment to the UN follows upon a distinguished career in which his opposition to Saddam Hussein's dictatorship has brought about his untiring efforts in working for basic human rights for all Iraqis, especially women and children. In the early decades, women in Iraq benefited from one of the most modern societies in the Middle East, equal to men on all levels, becoming the most educated and professional in the region. Following the invasion of Kuwait and the Gulf War women's progress halted; a religious shift toward observance of Islamic Shari'a and tribal leaders free to act upon traditional tribal codes were lethal to women; violations witnessed in rape, honor killings, lack of free choice in marriage, and to travel unaccompanied by a male relative were but a few of the travesties. Following upon Iraqi Interim Constitution, women's groups worked tirelessly for their inclusion in gov't. Success has been seen with six women cabinet ministers, one dedicated to women's issues, and a guarantee of 275 seats in Iraq's new National Assembly to women.