A Woman's Perspective

ByABC News
December 6, 2005, 2:39 PM

Dec. 11, 2005 -- -- Iraqi women throughout the nation have had their eyes on the events currently enveloping their nation.

From the most socially and economically excluded to the more educated and well-established areas in the country, women have recognized that a potential window of opportunity is available through the nation-building process.

Many women in Iraq were particularly concerned with the process of drafting the constitution, and women's rights activists were extremely worried by the arguments for introducing Islamic law, particularly with regards to the personal status code, which would determine marriage, divorce and inheritance issues pertaining to women. They were quick to point out that without a clear legal system, women could fall victim to courts that would be free to use their own interpretations of Islamic law against women.

Initially, there were many women's groups lobbying for a "no-vote" on the constitution, but with some of the last-minute adjustments many of these women have voted for the constitution.

One active women's rights activist living in Baghdad explained: "For months I was watching the constitutional process with worries. All my fears had reasons, but I had hidden hopes that led me to the idea that we must approve it as not to let the sacrifices of the past two years of blood and suffering be useless."

Due to the last-minute changes, the approval of the constitution during the October referendum was not seen as a defeat. Nonetheless, women have felt a need to mobilize for the forthcoming elections as the newly elected parliament will have a four-year term. While it was not viewed as a defeat, the constitution leaves women facing many challenges to secure their rights.

The last-minute adjustments provide women with a four-month window, and would need a two-thirds majority approval, to make changes to it after the Dec. 15, 2005, elections. Many women's rights activists welcome this window but feel, in reality and practice, any introductions to advance women's rights will have a slim chance of passing.