Biggert Returns from Meetings with Iraqi Women Candidates
Washington, DC - U.S. Representative Judy Biggert (R-IL) and three other Members of Congress today returned from meetings in Amman, Jordan with a group of Iraqi women candidates for the January 30, 2005 elections in Iraq. She and her colleagues, Reps. Kay Granger (R-TX), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA) and John Shimkus (R-IL) briefed Deputy National Security Advisor Steve Hadley at the White House this afternoon.
Biggert is a member of the Iraqi Women's Caucus, which organized the meetings. The group spent two days with 20 Iraqi women discussing the challenges they face as candidates and ways to become successful legislators. The women represented the major political parties in Iraq, including most religious and ethnic groups.
"Despite their ethnic and political differences, these women agreed on the need to begin a dialogue amongst the parties," said Biggert. "Most held the view that postponing elections would lead only to more violence. They also feared that postponed elections might mean no elections at all."
The January 30, 2005 elections are Iraq's first direct mulitiparty parliamentary elections since 1953. Of 7,000 candidates, 275 people will be elected to a National Assembly tasked with drafting a democratic Constitution by August 15. The Iraqi interim government has mandated that 25% of those elected be women.
"These were the most amazing women," said Biggert, "One woman's son and bodyguard were killed because of her candidacy and others had been kidnapped or were related to kidnapping victims. In spite of the enormous risks, they are committed to elections in their country. These are women of great courage."
The Iraqi women also stressed the need for a dialogue between all parties to address the overall challenges surrounding the political transition in Iraq and to spread a common message to encourage voter turnout.
"It's important to have realistic expectations," said Biggert, "This is only the first step towards their democracy.
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