{"id":76716,"date":"2023-04-18T16:03:30","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T16:03:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pppp.org.pk\/website\/?page_id=76716"},"modified":"2023-04-18T16:03:30","modified_gmt":"2023-04-18T16:03:30","slug":"civil-society-and-womens-participation-in-the-political-process","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pppp.org.pk\/website\/civil-society-and-womens-participation-in-the-political-process\/","title":{"rendered":"Civil Society and Women\u2019s Participation in the Political Process"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row type=”container” css=”.vc_custom_1680284512306{padding-top: 20px !important;}”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Socialist International\u00a0<\/i>Building Democracy in Iraq<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/i>Working for Peace in the Middle East
\n<\/span>Civil Society and Women\u2019s Participation in the Political Process
\n<\/span><\/b>Rome, Italy – July 18, 2003
\n\"\"<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Mr. Secretary General,<\/span><\/p>\n

Distinguish Delegates,<\/span><\/p>\n

The prerequisites for a democratic society is to hold transparent elections installing governments responsive and accountable to the people. For such a society it is necessary to have in place:<\/span><\/p>\n

An independent judiciary ensuring the rule of law.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0An uncensored media open to all points of view.
\n<\/span>\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Participation by all members of society, regulated only by age and citizenship.
\n<\/span>\u00b7<\/span>\u00a0Organized political parties that can contest elections and govern democratically.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The final building blocks of liberty are non-governmental organizations — NGOs — groups that articulate the interests of the polity and create a civil society.<\/span><\/p>\n

Civil society organizations are vital to promoting democratic development in any country and especially in semi-authoritarian states and pseudo-democracies. Building non-partisan civil society watchdogs in such countries is essential to democratic reform.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This is particularly true when the population distrusts government in conducting a clean electoral process.\u00a0 It is more apparent in Iraq, where an occupational authority with limited support will supervise elections.<\/span><\/p>\n

The efforts of nonpartisan election monitoring groups in countries around the globe mobilized thousands of citizens, particularly youth and women, to hold governments and political contestants accountable to the law and the public trust.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is important in a country like Iraq where political freedom can result in a surge of support for religious groups seeking to replace one dictatorship with another.<\/span><\/p>\n

Institutions in Iraq, built around a single party dominated by a single family, collapsed creating a political vacuum.<\/span><\/p>\n

It is this space that civil society must fill to prevent the rise of extremist groups and create a pluralistic order.<\/span><\/p>\n

Women suffered tremendously during the years of tyranny and sanctions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Narratives by women in conflict situations contain heart-rending accounts of survival strategies in times of catastrophe and war.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a woman leader from the Muslim world I believe that participation of Iraqi woman in civil society, the interim administration and local government is essential to the emergence of modern, democratic, pluralistic and tolerant Iraq.<\/span><\/p>\n

The nature of Iraqi society that emerges from dictatorship and occupation transiting to democracy is contingent on the encouragement given to and the involvement of women in leadership roles.<\/span><\/p>\n

The basis for civil society can be grounded in international rules expressed in the Beijing process and in the convention for the elimination of discrimination against women.<\/span><\/p>\n

The political interruption in Iraq provides a unique opportunity to negotiate the empowerment of women.<\/span><\/p>\n

With civil society taking on a global character, local and international initiatives can be woven together to provide new opportunities for women\u2019s participation in decision making.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To me, women are not just the building blocs of the family;
\nThey are the building blocs of society.
\nThey are responsible for the family\u2019s household budget.
\nThey bear most of the responsibility of child raising.
\nThey are more sensitive to social issues like education and health.<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u00a0— far more than their husbands and brothers\u00a0— are cautious about committing the lives of their children to war.<\/p>\n

Women are the principal educators, not just of literacy but also of morality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And once mobilized, once organized, once unleashed, the power of women to change their societies can never again be contained.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For 35 years the building blocs of civil and political society in Iraq were frozen.\u00a0 Now the international community needs to nurture them because:<\/span><\/p>\n