IRAQ: How are Women in Iraq Faring Now?

On 30 June 2009, the United States withdrew a significant number of troops from Iraq as a part of a plan to end the war that has lasted more than six years there. Reactions to the withdrawal from Iraqis have been mixed, with some proudly proclaiming national sovereignty and confidence in the current Iraqi security forces and others worrying about more violence and instability in the coming days.

Dr. Sundus Abass, Director of Women in Leadership Institute in Baghdad spoke with Masum Momaya at AWID after this latest development there about how general violence in the streets and towards women in homes is likely to increase, public violence against women has lessened and socioeconomic struggles are at the heart of Iraqi women's struggles today.

Now that some United States' troops have been withdrawn, what, if anything, do you expect will change in Iraq?

I expect that violence will increase, not only because of the withdrawal of U.S. troops, but due to the lack of readiness of Iraqi forces. I also anticipate increased conflicts between the various Iraqi political factions in light of the upcoming parliamentary elections [currently scheduled for early 2010]. Democracy has not matured yet in Iraq.

Are the conditions for women any different now?

Yes, compared to the conditions in 2006-2007, the direct violent threats to women in public have lessened, but the general situation has not improved. Women still face acute shortages of basic services. Widows, in particular, have to deal with this alone. High unemployment rates mean that more women are the primary breadwinners for their families. Also, female prisoners and detainees are still without due processes of justice.

Women are also continuously worried that those in power are trying to abolish the Personal Status Law* of 1959. Also, the Iraqi Penal Code still heavily punishes women for crimes of honor and cements the right of a husband to beat his wife and daughters.

A number of women are being trafficked. Domestic violence has increased. There are no laws that protect women from this, and there are very few safe shelters for battered women, except for some shelters in Kurdistan.

Is the influence of Islamic militants on women's rights changing at all?

Yes, the threat of armed groups is lessening as the authority of the state is getting stronger. Also, the existence of official checkpoints on the streets helps women feel safe in the areas of movement and work. Once again, I want to say that we as women feel that the Iraqi situation is a little better compared to the previous three years.

Has violence against women increased or decreased recently?

Killing women and targeting women by kidnapping them has decreased in the last year, but it has not disappeared completely.

How is the current employment situation for women?

Women face the same problem of unemployment faced by all Iraqis because of the deterioration of the general economic situation and the weakness of government programs, but women still constitute a large part of the labor force in government service.

Are widows receiving the support they need?

More and more women become widows every day, and their plight is worsening. Current government programs do not support women's needs at all levels.

Also, the government has not implemented any continuous and active programs or economic projects that support widows. Also, we do not have laws ensuring social security or health care for citizens, especially for women. Unemployment rates amongst women are rising and of those still employed, many are becoming the primary breadwinners for their families. Finally, the programs being implemented by United Nations agencies and international organizations are scattered, sporadic, non-continuous and inadequate.

Also, we need centers for the rehabilitation of and psychological support for women. We have a few in a very limited number of areas established by some non-governmental organizations (NGOs), but these NGOs do not have adequate resources to support all women who have been widowed or divorced.

In withdrawing troops, U.S. President Obama says that he hopes to place more of Iraq's governance in the hands of Iraqis? Do you think this will happen? And what might be the implications for women?

I do not think President Obama understands the situation of many Iraqis, or the situation of women in Iraq. I am not one of those people who hope for a lot of good when listening to the promises of the United States. Currently, the forces engaged in the Iraqi political process are duplicitous; financial and administrative corruption is rampant; and there is constant threat that sectarian interpretations of human rights and women's rights – and abolishment of what rights we do have – will win out.

Will there be new opportunities for women to lead the rebuilding process?

Women are playing a significant role in the process of rebuilding Iraq because women constitute a large part of the workforce in all sectors, including the public sector. A large segment of Iraqi women who are highly educated are making contributions to processes of construction and reconstruction. We, as women, have always played a part in constructing Iraq in the past and are playing a part in reconstructing it now.

Do you think the new government will allow for women to recapture some of the gains they made during the century prior to the first U.S. invasion in 1990?

I do not think that the new government can support the demands of the Iraqi women's movement and re-establish the rights of women and the achievements of the last century.

Despite the formal pronouncements of the new government, the trends thus far reflect that they don't believe in human rights or respect the rights of women. The new government has endorsed the abolishment of the Personal Status Law, the spread of temporary marriages, polygamy, attempts to impose the veil and restrictions on freedoms for women.

What can women inside and outside Iraq do right now to improve the situation?

We as Iraqi women must redouble our efforts and our campaigns to face these current challenges and be continuously alert for further violations of our rights. Our ideas and strategies must come those of us living and working inside Iraq today - not from theories put forward by women who have left Iraq ten years ago or are living outside Iraq and visit Iraq from time to time as part of delegations or as guests attending a meeting.

We also need to be trained about international mechanisms that utilize international law and international conventions [such as CEDAW] to press for the rights of women. We would benefit from learning how women in other countries have used these mechanisms to fight for legislative reforms in their own contexts, based on local needs.

Finally, we also look to international organizations and networks for support and solidarity. In many instances, Iraqi women living outside Iraq speak on our behalf at international conferences. We would like to represent ourselves in these spaces.

Note:

* The Personal Status Law (“the law”) of 1959. The law restricts child marriages and forced marriages and polygamy; curtails men's prerogatives in divorce and expands women's rights in divorce; extends child custody to mothers; and improves inheritance rights for women. Since 1959, Iraqi family law has evolved and been amended under various secular governments to give women “half-share” in society and opportunities to develop as individuals. Moreover, the law eliminates differential treatment of Sunnis and Shias under the law, which is important because many marriages in Iraq are mixed marriages. Women's rights activists fear that abolishing the Personal Status Law would place family matters in the hands of religious authorities, return Iraqi families to conditions prior to 1959 and further increase divisions between religious groups.