Iraqi womens rights in the new Iraq

From the Alive in Baghdad series : Steps Backward - Womens Rights in Iraq http://www.aliveinbaghdad.org/

Baghdad, Iraq - Women in Iraq are enduring great hardships. Since the fall of Saddam, despite attempts to improve womens rights, many feel their rights are slipping. Under Saddam women were considered to be equal under the law. With the collapse of the government after the invasion in 2003, militias have gained greater and greater ground.

The militias have not only been involved in ongoing criminal activity, many have ties to Islamist groups, such as the Supreme Islamic Council of Iraq, or Al-Qaeda in Iraq. These groups in particular have targeted women, preventing them from working, and enforcing strict dress codes. This week Hayder Kamal interviews an activist for womens rights who discusses her work improving womens knowledge of their rights. During 2004 and 2005 she worked to encourage women to vote and understand the constitution and the importance of voting and being involved in political life.

She, like many members of civil society, reports being targeted repeatedly and nearly killed for her work. Today she is working secretly and her organization continues, but less publicly than before. This has become a necessity with the continuing presence of dire threats to women. The spread of democracy in Iraq has so far assisted the rise of Islamist groups, and has greatly hindered the progression of womens rights.

For women to live with security, access to the same rights as men, and equal protection under the law, is going to take more than a new constitution, forced imposition of democracy, and a quota system in the parliament. As the ongoing insecurity and instability in Iraq enters its sixth year, the situation of women sees few signs of improving.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• iraqi
• women
• human
• rights
• iraq
• baghdad
• activists

[dudedaw1]

Iraqis women have the rights. i'm 100% agreed with you. go for it.

and @kariminasrin, you are stupid. please let the women to have the right in Iraq. let them to be freedom.

HELP THEM LIVE THE DREAM!

[kariminasrin]

MY DEAR ,,,THE PROBLE IN IT SELF NOT THE IRQI WOMEN,,,THOSE LOVELY WOMEN ALLWAYS USED AS A OBJECT TO SERV THE MAN AND THEY NEVER BE ALAWED TO LEARN NOTHING,,, BUT THE IRAQI GOVERMENT,,A RELIGIOS FANATIC, PATRIRCAL GOUP OF JUST MEN,,,

IRQI WOMEN MUST BE RESPECTED AS A HUMANBEEN WITH EQUAL RIGHT WITH MEN,,,,,,IRQI INSTITUTION MUST CHANGE THERE UGLY BEHAVIER BEFORE THE WOMEN,,,,