Dear Experts
I would appreciate it greatly if, as fast as possible, this the extracts below could be read to give examples from Constitutions of India for me to pass on to Egypt’s activist women through my colleague at this truly critical time in the whole region’s history. The women's group in Egypt are lobbying for pro active changes in the constituion of Egypt at the time when now constituion is being amended by a committee in which there is no representation of women legal experts. They have collected some information from other countries and are still collecting more information from other constituions of the world. Please suggest what are the saliant features of our constitution you would like to send these strong women so that they can lobby for and build pressure on the constituion amendement committee to integrate those features. It would be our selfless contribution to the women's struggle in Egypt to make their voices heard and make them visible. I am copying below some of the information that they have received from around the world and are still receiving them. Let us make our this post a contribution to this historical moment.
Excerpts guaranteeing women’s rights from the post-Saddam Iraqi Constitution, the Namibian Constitution and the post-Apartheid South African Constitution.
IRAQI CONSTITUTION
The Preamble
We, the people of Iraq, who have just risen from our stumble, and who are looking with confidence to the future through a republican, federal, democratic, pluralistic system, have resolved with the determination of our men, women, elderly, and youth to respect the rule of law, to establish justice and equality, to cast aside the politics of aggression, to pay attention to women and their rights, the elderly and their concerns, and children and their affairs, to spread the culture of diversity, and to defuse terrorism.
Section Two
Rights and Liberties
Chapter One
[Rights]
First: Civil and Political Rights
Article 14:
Iraqis are equal before the law without discrimination based on gender, race, ethnicity,
nationality, origin, colour, religion, sect, belief or opinion, or economic or social status.
Section Three
Federal Powers
Chapter one
The Council of Representatives
Article 49:
First: The Council of Representatives shall consist of a number of members, at a
ratio of one seat per 100,000 Iraqi persons representing the entire Iraqi people.
They shall be elected through a direct secret general ballot. The representation of
all components of the people shall be upheld in it.
Fourth: The elections law shall aim to achieve a percentage of representation for
women of not less than one-quarter of the members of the Council of
Representatives.
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NAMIBIAN CONSTITUTION
Article 10- Equality and Freedom from Discrimination (1) All persons shall be equal before the law. (2) No persons may be discriminated against on the grounds of s*x, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.
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CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA NO. 108 OF 1996
CHAPTER 2 BILL OF RIGHTS
7. Rights.-( 1) This Bill of Rights is a cornerstone of democracy in South Africa. It enshrines the rights of all people in our country and affirms the democratic values of human dignity, equality and freedom.
9. Equality.- l) Everyone is equal before the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law.
(3) The state may not unfairly discriminate directly or indirectly against anyone on one or more grounds, including race, gender, s*x, pregnancy, marital status, ethnic or social origin, colour, s*xual orientation, age, disability, religion, conscience, belief, culture, language and birth.
Thank you all in advance
