III 

109TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 231 

Encouraging the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq to adopt a constitution that grants women equal rights under the law and to work to 

protect such rights. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JULY 29, 2005 

Ms. LANDRIEU (for herself, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. MIKULSKI, Mrs. MURRAY, Ms. SNOWE, Mrs. CLINTON, Ms. 

COLLINS, Mr. BIDEN, Ms. STABENOW, Mrs. HUTCHISON, Mrs. BOXER, 

Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. OBAMA, Mr. SCHUMER, Mrs. DOLE, Mr. LAUTENBERG, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. ALLEN, Mrs. LINCOLN, and Mr. SANTORUM) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Encouraging the Transitional National Assembly of Iraq to 

adopt a constitution that grants women equal rights 

under the law and to work to protect such rights. 

Whereas Iraq is a sovereign nation and a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, done at 

New York December 16, 1966, and entered into force 

March 23, 1976; 

Whereas in Iraq’s January 2005 parliamentary elections, 

more than 2,000 women ran for office and currently 31 

percent of the seats in Iraq’s National Assembly are occupied by women; 
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•SRES 231 ATS

Whereas women lead the Iraqi ministries of Displacement 

and Migration, Communications, Municipalities and Public Works, Environment, and Science and Technology; 

Whereas the Transitional Administrative Law provides for 

substantial participation of women in the Iraqi National 

Assembly and of personnel in all levels of the government; 

Whereas the Personal Status Law provides for family and 

property rights for women in Iraq; 

Whereas through grants funded by the United States Government’s Iraqi Women’s Democracy Initiative, nongovernmental organizations are providing training in political 

leadership, communications, coalition-building skills, 

voter education, constitution drafting, legal reform, and 

the legislative process; 

Whereas a 275-member Transitional National Assembly, 

which is charged with the responsibility of drafting a new 

constitution, was elected to serve as Iraq’s national legislature for a transition period; 

Whereas Article 12 of Iraq’s Transitional Administrative Law 

states that ‘‘[a]ll Iraqis [are] equal in their rights without regard to gender . . . and they are equal before the 

law’’; 

Whereas Article 12 of the Transitional Administrative Law 

further states that ‘‘[d]iscrimination against an Iraqi citizen on the basis of his gender . . . is prohibited’’; 

Whereas on May 10, 2005, Iraq’s National Assembly appointed a committee, composed of Assembly members, to 

begin drafting a constitution for Iraq that will be subject 

to the approval of the Iraqi people in a national referendum; 
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•SRES 231 ATS

Whereas the Senate recognizes the need to affirm the spirit 

and free the energies of women in Iraq who have spent 

countless hours, years, and lifetimes working for the 

basic human right of equal constitutional protection; 

Whereas the Senate recognizes the risks Iraqi women have 

faced in working for the future of their country and admire their courageous commitment to democracy; and 

Whereas the full and equal participation of all Iraqi citizens 

in all aspects of society is essential to achieving Iraq’s 

democratic and economic potential: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) commends the Iraqi people for the progress 

3 achieved toward the establishment of a representa4 tive democratic government; 

5 (2) recognizes the importance of ensuring 

6 women in Iraq have equal rights and opportunities 

7 under the law and in society and supports continued, 

8 substantial, and vigorous participation of women in 

9 the Iraqi National Assembly and in all levels of the 

10 government; 

11 (3) recognizes the importance of ensuring wom12 en’s rights in all legislation, with special attention to 

13 preserving women’s equal rights under family, prop14 erty, and inheritance laws; 

15 (4) strongly encourages Iraq’s Transitional Na16 tional Assembly to adopt a constitution that grants 
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•SRES 231 ATS

1 women equal rights and opportunities under the law 

2 and to work to protect such rights; 

3 (5) pledges to support the efforts of Iraqi 

4 women to fully participate in a democratic Iraq; and 

5 (6) wishes the Iraqi people every success in de6 veloping, approving, and enacting a new constitution 

7 that ensures the civil and political rights of every cit8 izen without reservation of any kind based on gen9 der, religion, or national or social origin. 

Æ