Iraq and UN Security Council Resolution 1325: A Letter to Prime Minister Blair

17 April 2003

Rt. Hon. Tony Blair MP
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2AA

Dear Tony Blair,

Iraq and UN Security Council Resolution 1325

The Women's International League for Peace and Freedom was founded in 1915 to press, among other things, for women to have an equal voice with men in peacemaking and peace building and for the protection women in armed conflict. This has been at the forefront of our aims ever since. In 2000 we played a prominent part in the successful campaign to get Resolution 1325 agreed by the Security Council and we are proud that Britain played such a supportive role in its adoption and also its implementation.

Now we are calling on the UK government to press for women to be enabled to play an equal role with men in the post-conflict reconstruction of Iraq.

We are pleased that you are advocating a major role for the UN in the reconstruction of Iraq. However, regardless of whether it is the US, UN, or some other 'coalition' who run Iraq, any interim administrations at national, regional and local levels, all aspects of the planning and policy development, and all entities set up to develop and govern the future Iraq should include at least 40% women and at least 40% men.

Women have particularly suffered during this war. Many have been widowed, and may be particularly vulnerable. The lawlessness currently rife in Iraq may well lead to rape and further abuse. If Iraq is to have a chance of progress with stability, gender considerations need to be mainstreamed into the entire reconstruction process. This does not mean the addition to any interim or long term governing bodies of a few token women, with neither power nor resources (as happened in Afghanistan). At least one third of Ministers of the interim Government should be qualified women with an understanding of the priorities for Iraqi women as well as men. If a Minister for Women is appointed she must have resources and the power and seniority to be effective in her task.

There has been much discussion on how to achieve proportionality of various religious and ethnic groups in a post-conflict Iraq. Over 50 % of the Iraq population are female. Without the input of women in setting the new agenda at all levels from grass roots to national government only half the talent pool in Iraq will be utilized to rebuild Iraq.

We want to see a new gender balanced secular constitution that does not discriminate against women. It should include appointments of women to transitional and interim governments, ministries and committees dealing with systems of local and national governance, the judiciary, policing, the protection of human rights, the allocation of funds, the development of a free media and the conduct of future elections. It is very important for women to be consulted and involved in the security aspect of reconstruction – policing, the judiciary etc as well as in building democracy and the development of welfare and education.

We want the UK Government to use its influence ensure that women are deployed at all levels of post conflict missions in approximately equal numbers to men, including the most senior posts (In Afghanistan, despite UN Resolution 1325 - only men were appointed to the top five UN posts.). There are very many well-educated women in Iraq who would be capable of taking on these roles.

We are concerned that on the Iraqi Reconstruction Group, which we believe was set up by the UK government there are only five women out of approximately thirty members. We urge you to ensure that the Government appoints an equal number of women and men to this group.

We want to see a real change for the better in the daily life of women as well as for men in Iraq.

Yours sincerely,

Rosalie Huzzard
President
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
UK Section

37 Hollingworth Road Petts Wood Orpington Kent BR5 1AQ Tel: 020 8467 5367
e-mail: rosalie.huzzard@btinternet.com
website: http://www.gn.apc.org/ukwilpf