WOMEN ACTIVISTS REACT TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003516

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KWMN KDEM IZ
SUBJECT: WOMEN ACTIVISTS REACT TO DRAFT CONSTITUTION

REF: BAGHDAD 3382

Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD FOR REASONS 1.4(B)
AND (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY. Women activists expressed to Ambassador on
August 24 their frustration over the new constitution's
implications for women's rights. The Ambassador underscored
that the U.S. had pushed hard on this issue and achieved some
compromise -- the removal of a time limit to the 25 percent
quota for female representation in the legislature and
language referring to Islam as "a" main source instead of
"the" main source. The women continue to object to language
on personal status, the role of Islam, and the limitation of
quota requirements for female representation in the
legislature. They have threatened to lobby against the new
constitution, but recognize that they do not speak for all
Iraqi women, many of whom will not oppose the new draft. END
SUMMARY.

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AMBASSADOR OUTLINES U.S. SUPPORT ON WOMEN'S ISSUES
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2. (C) At an August 24 meeting with Ambassador, key women
activists expressed concern about the role of Islam in the
constitution. The activists asserted that, even with
language stating that no legislation can contradict the
principles of democracy or the rights outlined in other parts
of the constitution, religious clerics would play a large
role in determining what this means.


3. (C) The women -- TNA member and Failee Kurd Samia Aziz,
Gender Advisor to President Talibani Selma Jabou, and women's
activists Hanaa Edwar and Nisreen al-Amidi -- also
strenuously objected to language on the regulation of
personal status. They stated that even with a civil option
women, especially those uneducated about their rights, would
be forced to accept Shari'a by their male family members.
Damluji also stated that the constitution would not stop
sheiks marrying very young girls.


4. (C) The Ambassador noted the political realities of the
TNA. He emphasized that U.S. efforts had resulted in the
removal of term limits for the 25 percent quota for female
representation in the legislature. He also pointed to the
fact that, not only was there compromise on the role of Islam
(from "the" main source to "a" main source),but also that
the U.S. has insisted on the inclusion of language requiring
that no law contradict the principles of democracy or the
basic rights provided for in the constitution.


5. (C) COMMENT: We can expect some women activists to speak
out against the constitution. We will continue to engage
them, but they may well seek to mobilize their networks to
lobby voters against the constitution. At the same time,
they themselves recognize that they are not the voice of all
Iraqi women. Many Iraqi women will not oppose the Islamist
approach (see ref). END COMMENT
Khalilzad