Workshops on Iraqi constitution review

 

for the period 14/4 until 6/5/2007

 In support of the process of amending the constitution, laying the foundation for national unity and for the civil society organizations role in the process of amending the Iraqi constitution through the deployment of cultural and community awareness.

Tammuz Organization for Social Development held (24) workshop on amendments to the constitution were distributed among (12) Governorate represented central and southern Iraq in cooperation with the Al-hayat Iraqi network, Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Germany for the period from 14\4 to 6\5\2007 which held two workshops in each governorate included the provinces of Baghdad, Babel, Karbala, Najaf, Qadissiya, Muthanna, Dhi Qar, Basra, Maysan and Wasit, Anbar, Salah al-Din.   

During the workshops, the required ideas in the constitutional review process had been discussed and depending on the recommendations of the Dead Sea conference, which were held in Jordan on 15 \ 11 \ 2006 and responded participants in the workshops positively and effectively to the discussion of the articles of the constitution and the amendment proposals, the most important and most prominent issues that have been discussed is the:  

§         Wealth and how distribution and management.

§         Federalism and the relationship between the regionals.

§         The issue of Kirkuk.

§         Federal Court.

§          Build armed forces

§         Freedoms in the constitution and freedom of expression and
commitment

§         International human rights conventions and other articles of the
constitution multiple

§         Emphasis on the lifting of all articles and paragraphs and phrases of sectarianism.

 The discussions in the workshops depends on style of the dialogue, to listen and respect the points of views, as well as the work style in groups in order to activate the dialogue and promote ideas and views among the participants. The results of workshops constitutional review are in the following proposals:  

• Lifting the words of Saddam's Baath Article (7) of the constitution.

• Formation of an Iraqi Army on a national basis and the adoption of occupational and professional Article (9).

• Lifting of article (41) and replace the Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959 as amended.

• Amendment to the first paragraph of Article (92) for members of the Federal Court and experience in the judiciary to clarify with the second paragraph of the same article.

• All of the oil and gas wealth under the Federal government Article (111).

• Non-forming regionals on the basis of sectarian or denominational Article (117).

• Postpone the rule (140) to another appropriate time.

• Addendum rule for the recognition of treaties and international conventions on human rights.