Women Leaders from Iraq: Perspectives on Reconstruction
Address to the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and Inclusive Security: Women Waging Peace
by Dr. Rajaa Habib Dhahir Khuzai
November 13, 2024

Thank you Ambassador Hunt.

I want to start my story by telling you about how I was appointed to the Governing Council. I was told my name was first put forward by my City Council and the Governor of Diwaniyah. He was in place after the liberation of Iraq.

At a meeting with my women’s group in Diwaniyah, the Governor, the City Council, and the CPA, I noticed two observers sitting at the side. They left after the meeting and their translator approached me to ask for a meeting with the observers. I met and talked to Megan and Ethan, and it felt like an interview. I spoke about my career, my family, and my work. I spoke about my feelings and emotions after the war. We talked about democracy, the constitution, and my hopes for the future. This took place near the end of June. Shortly afterward, I was invited to the Coalition Provisional Authority headquarters in Hillah and had another meeting with Fadi, a US Military Colonel. We again talked about democracy and the constitution. It was very relaxed; yet I did not know why I was there.

This carried on. Two days later the Major in charge of Diwaniyah, Major Hope, phoned me at my hospital to say Ambassador Bremer wanted to meet me at 2:30 that day. It was 11:00 AM. When I got to Ambassador Bremer’s offices, I saw Megan and Ethan. Once again we talked about democracy, but also more about my personal story and how long I had been back in the country. This took 10 to 15 minutes. Ambassador Bremer excused himself because he said he had another interview, but first, he asked me if I had any questions. Yes, I did: “Why am I here?” He answered, “Because you are a strong woman.”

Back in Diwaniyah the next day, we had another women’s meeting. Diwaniyah’s Major Hope spoke to the group. He asked them to clap their hands and congratulate me. They did so. None of us knew why; we remained ignorant. I tried to make sense of this back home, but it was still a mystery. Two days later the Hillah CPA enlightened me—I was to be nominated as a member of the Interim Governing Council. I said I would have to think about it, so I went home and discussed it with my family and husband. I had the full encouragement and support of my husband. He said that after helping so many women give birth to Iraqi babies, it was time to help give birth to a new Iraqi society.

In the first week of the Governing Council, there was confusion and a sense of chaos and challenge. I reconnected with friends who I had not seen for 20 years. We decided it was a small world. We started to get to know each other, especially the independents, and as we got to know the party representatives. We took small steps at the beginning: deciding our priorities and Iraq’s needs. We were given the framework and the limits of our roles and responsibilities in the appointment of ministers, the appointment of a committee to advise us on the processes of forming the constitution. Our limits were also made clear—no responsibility for security or deBaathification or even our salaries. We explored these issues and started to set up committees.

At the beginning, as one of the three women, our voices were soft and quiet. As we realized our quiet voices were going to be swallowed and as our confidence grew, our voices got stronger, but not loud enough to get into the presidential committee. We had to prove ourselves as women and as members of the Governing Council to our colleagues. One of our first tasks was to nominate names for the ministries. We could put names and CVs into the pot of nominations. Personally, I nominated one man and one woman. Since there were 25 ministers and 25 members, we agreed that every member would have one nomination. We decided a minister should have organizational experience, experience in managing people and not necessarily technical expertise. That expertise was for the deputies and director generals or ministries’ staff. (This is the case in many parts of the world.)

One of my nominations was accepted—Dr. Ala Al Alwan for the ministry of education. I stand by Dr. Al Alwan. He has brought new insights to the role and he has a vision for rebuilding a strong education system for Iraqi children. My quota was met; the woman I nominated was not put forward.

As the group proposing the processes for drafting the constitution was announced, I realized, as women, our voices were weakening. We needed more women to make a critical mass in order for our voices to be heard. The birth of my vision of a new democratic Iraq was at risk. The baby’s life was in danger.

Security was getting worse. We were personally threatened. I was informed of a plot against me. Our hands were tied behind our backs, while demands were increasing for us to take more control. The baby’s heartbeat was weakening. We were being strongly persuaded to agree to decisions were not happy with.

The US Government welcomed Turkish troops into Iraq. We discussed this intensively. I went to Ayatollah Shistani in Najaf to ask for guidance on this and other issues, especially regarding women’s participation and the constitution. He felt strongly that Iraq should have no interference from our neighbors—be it Turkey, Iran, or the neighboring Arab countries. He opposed this interference strongly. On the question of women’s participation, he stated that, provided the woman was competent, she could be president, minister, or governor. We should not use religion to separate us.

As a member of the Governing Council, I feel we are being put under unnecessary pressure. Democracy and democratic forms of government take time and careful thought. If mistakes are made at the beginning, the final solution will be flawed. I therefore strongly urge the US Government to stop and think. Do not build on your first mistakes.

As you nominated the original governing council and failed to represent the full voice of women in Iraq (we are between 55 and 65 percent of the Iraqi nation), it is your responsibility to nominate more women now. Do not leave this task to the men of the Governing Council. Use the authority you have invested in yourselves to rectify this mistake. Use whatever criteria you used to appoint competent Iraqi women with strong voices to join us in our efforts. We need to be a minimal number of 10.

Use the authority; Do not hand over to us alone the responsibility of the dialogue of partnership to insist the inclusion of women in the Constitutional Assembly. Use UN Resolution 1325 to insist on our voice at all levels. Let us enter into a partnership dialogue (The CPA, the Governing Council) on securing and stabilizing Iraq to make it safer for troops and Iraqis from criminal and terrorist elements. We all have a stake in making Iraq safe.

Provide a framework of responsibility and accountability of the government to the Governing Council. At present there is only accountability to the CPA. This makes for ineffective governance. There is no accountability or lines of responsibility.

I repeat: Democracy, debate, and a constitution that involves the Iraqi nation takes time to grow. Even a baby takes nine months in its mother’s womb. Be our partners in this historic time. We are your allies not your enemies.

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