Administrator’s Weekly Governance Report

Administrator’s Weekly Governance Report February 28 – March 5, 2004 HIGHLIGHTS On Monday, March 8, the Iraqi Governing Council (IGC) signed the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL). The Iraqi people now have a legal framework for the interim government containing a Bill of Rights that ensures equal treatment under the law for every Iraqi citizen. The TAL is the cornerstone for a permanent democratic government in Iraq. I. Support Transition to Iraqi Sovereignty • The March 2, suicide bombings in Baghdad and Karbala prompted the IGC to declare a three-day mourning period for the victims and to reschedule the TAL signing ceremony. The IGC convened on Friday, March 5 for the rescheduled ceremony, but the signing was once again delayed because of disagreements over provisions in the document related to veto power in a permanent constitution. After reaching an understanding on the outstanding issues, the IGC signed the TAL on March 8. • In order to test basic understanding of political processes and concepts among Iraqis, the CPA dedicated a portion of a February 23-29, poll to a short “civics test.” The poll indicates that Iraqis in general are not well-informed on transition political issues. Fewer than half (42 percent) of survey respondents understand the purpose of the TAL or who writes and approves it. Approximately half as many respondents understood that a constitution is a nation’s fundamental law. Approximately one third of respondents correctly identify federalism with the election of local officials, and views diverge widely on concerns about federalism. The survey was conducted in seven cities including Baghdad, Babylon, Dyala, Ramadi, Mosul, Basra and Suleymaniyah. • In a separate six-city poll (Baghdad, Basra, Mosul, Hilla, Karbala and Ramadi), respondents indicated that the IGC is unacceptable as an interim government and that United Nations (UN) endorsement makes all forms of alternative interim governments less popular. The following table provides the results to the question regarding acceptability of specific forms of government. (Results in parentheses represent the results if the UN recommended specific forms of government.) FORM Completely Acceptable Somewhat Acceptable Somewhat Unacceptable Completely Unacceptable Local caucuses select a legislature and the legislature creates an interim government 43% (UN: 37.2) 15.3% (UN: 16.4) 5.6% (UN: 6.6) 30.7% (UN: 34.5) The current Iraqi Governing Council becomes the interim government 11.9% (UN: 11.2) 16.1% (UN: 15.1) 10.7% (UN: 12.6) 56.9% (UN: 55.9) An expanded form of the current Iraqi Governing Council 12.8% (UN: 13.4) 19.1% (UN: 16.8) 14.3% (UN: 12.6) 48.4% (UN: 55.9) An alternative unelected board appointed by the UN 11.7% 6.4% 8.4% 67.1% • A tribal caucus held on March 3 selected seven new members to the Dhi Qar Provincial Council (PC). The refreshment process for the Dhi Qar PC is nearly complete. • The Baghdad City Advisory Council (CAC) authorized its legal committee to prepare a draft Baghdad City Charter to codify CAC functions under the TAL. II. Develop Civic Participation in Governance • Basra Governor Wael Abdul Latif convened a governorate conference on federalism and decentralization on February 29. More than 150 participants from across the governorate attended the forum representing political parties, local councils, trade unions, local media, Basra University and governorate departments. The meeting marked the first opportunity for the Governor to talk openly with his constituents on the practical aspects of Federalism. • Waleed Aumran Hussein Al Janabi, the recently elected Babil Governor, took office on March 1. His first week in office included training through USAID's Local Governance Program (LGP) as well as receiving community leaders. • On February 28 in Arbil, the CPA, in conjunction with the Kurdish Regional Government and Salah ad Din University, hosted the second of six weekly seminars devoted to promoting the economic development of the Arbil governorate. This second seminar focused on infrastructure for a growing economy. • The CPA visited two elementary schools for girls in Maysan governorate on February 26, in preparation for an Local Governance Program (LGP) Rule of Law Program at schools throughout the governorate. Through the Rule of Law Program, LGP plans to present a five-minute speech at the flag raising ceremonies of elementary, intermediate, and secondary schools throughout the governorate. Weekly messages on a variety of subjects tailored to the age of the students will continue until the end of the year. • The CPA facilitated a Democracy Dialogue Activity (DDA) workshop in Arbil on March 1. Discussion included networking, effective outreach, and training techniques to promote dialogue. • The CPA Iraqi Women in Local Government Program (IWLG) and the Iraq Foundation for Development and Democracy (IFDD) co-sponsored a conference in Baghdad on February 26 on the role of women in the new Iraq. The participants represented a cross section of Iraqi society including lawyers, doctors, engineers, council members, housewives, activists, and governmental organization (NGO) staff. The conference agenda focused on two main issues: 1) the representation of women in the National Transitional Assembly and in government positions; and 2) women's legal rights, including a focus on current laws and how they affect women, and Islamic law. • The Kurdish Economic Development Organization (KEDO), with the support of the LGP, began a three-day workshop on February 24 in Arbil, to promote the participation of women in the workforce. With approximately 35 to 40 women attending, the workshop featured a film portraying women business owners and discussions about the barriers to the advancement of women's careers. The women also identified their needs for starting small businesses and developed strategies to address these needs. III. Promote Respect for Human Rights • During the March 2, meeting of the Tripartite Commission on Missing Persons, relating to the first Gulf War in Kuwait, Kuwaitis gave permission for Iraqis to assess two mass graves inside the Kuwaiti border that may contain war casualties and to inspect three individual graves in a cemetery before exhumation. IV. Promote Durable Solutions for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) • The CPA, with support of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), is planning a convoy of refugees to return from the Rafha camp in Saudi Arabia to various destinations in Iraq on March 7, nearly completing the repatriation of these refugees. ADDENDUM The following is an update on the transition to sovereignty (after the close of the reporting period): • Several hours after the rescheduled TAL signing ceremony on March 5, the IGC adjourned. After reaching an understanding on a few outstanding issues, the IGC reconvened on March 8, and signed the law for the transition period. • The Iraqi people now have an interim constitution containing a Bill of Rights that ensures equal treatment under the law for every Iraqi citizen. Among the significant provisions in the TAL are the establishment of a Federalist system, based on geography, not ethnicity; an independent judiciary system; and a military under civilian control.