[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 106 (Friday, July 29, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9583-S9584]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         ENCOURAGING THE TRANSITIONAL NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF IRAQ

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of S. Res. 231, submitted 
earlier today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution 
and preamble be agreed to, en bloc, the motion to reconsider be laid 
upon the table, and that any statements relating to the resolution be 
printed in the Record, without intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 231) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with its preamble, reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 231

       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;
       Whereas women lead the Iraqi ministries of Displacement and 
     Migration, Communications, Municipalities and Public Works, 
     Environment, and Science and Technology;

[[Page S9584]]

       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;
       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
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) commends the Iraqi people for the progress achieved 
     toward the establishment of a representative democratic 
     government;
       (2) recognizes the importance of ensuring women in Iraq 
     have equal rights and opportunities under the law and in 
     society and supports continued, substantial, and vigorous 
     participation of women in the Iraqi National Assembly and in 
     all levels of the government;
       (3) recognizes the importance of ensuring women's rights in 
     all legislation, with special attention to preserving women's 
     equal rights under family, property, and inheritance laws;
       (4) strongly encourages Iraq's Transitional National 
     Assembly to adopt a constitution that grants women equal 
     rights and opportunities under the law and to work to protect 
     such rights;
       (5) pledges to support the efforts of Iraqi women to fully 
     participate in a democratic Iraq; and
       (6) wishes the Iraqi people every success in developing, 
     approving, and enacting a new constitution that ensures the 
     civil and political rights of every citizen without 
     reservation of any kind based on gender, religion, or 
     national or social origin.

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