Iraq Afghanistan

MM/DD/YYYYTITLE06/24/2005 U.N. Official Says More Funding Needed for Afghan Elections12/27/2004 [Read More]

Rebuilding Afghanistan - US Department of State

U.N. Official Says More Funding Needed for Afghan ElectionsU.N. envoy briefs Security Council on progress toward September ballotingA U.N. official expressed worry that a significant shortfall in international financial contributions could force a postponement of the elections in Afghanistan scheduled for September. Briefing the Security Council, Jean Arnault, the U.N. special envoy to Afghanistan, says the election project is still $78.8 million short of its anticipated cost.    (complete text) [Read More]

World Support Urged for Women's Rights in Iraq, Afghanistan - US Department of State

Afghan Minister for Women's Affairs Massouda Jalal and Iraqi Minister of State for Women's Affairs Narmin Othman appeared March 8 with U.S. Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs Paula Dobriansky, who expressed admiration for Afghan and Iraqi women's courage in their fight against oppression.  Dobriansky said Afghan and Iraqi women played leading roles in getting people to vote despite intimidation by terrorists. ...

Iraq’s Othman said the January 30 voting for Iraq's Transitional National Assembly was an historic event in which women played a vital role in getting out the vote and in capturing 31 percent of the parliamentary seats.  She said the next step in securing women's rights will take place in the writing of the constitution. ... [Read More]

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Iraq (08/04)

Iraq invaded Kuwait in August 1990, but a U.S.-led coalition acting under United Nations (UN) resolutions expelled Iraq from Kuwait in February 1991. After the war, the UN Security Council required the regime to surrender its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and submit to UN inspections. When the Ba'ath regime refused to fully cooperate with the UN inspections, the Security Council employed sanctions to prevent further WMD development and compel Iraqi adherence to international obligations. Coalition forces enforced no-fly zones in southern and northern Iraq to protect Iraqi citizens from attack by the regime and a no-drive zone in southern Iraq to prevent the regime from massing forces to threaten or again invade Kuwait. ... [Read More]

Department of State Washington File: Transcript: Bush, Howard Reaffirm Cooperation in Iraq, Afghanistan

Today the Prime Minister and I discussed our coalition's progress in Iraq. That country took a major step two days ago when the new interim government was named. That government will assume full sovereignty later this month. Our coalition will remain in Iraq to help them along the path of freedom. The new Iraqi government's foremost task will be to prepare Iraq for a national election no later than January of next year. And to work with our coalition to provide the security that will make that election possible. A sovereign Iraq deserves the full support of the international community as it works to establish a representative and freely elected system of government in the months ahead. ... [Read More]

Women in Iraq - US Department of State

Global Summit of Women To Promote Wider Economic ParticipationWomen entrepreneurs to exchange ideas, establish networking alliancesWhen the fifteenth annual Global Summit of Women opens in Mexico City on June 23, approximately 900 women leaders from around the world will meet to exchange ideas and strategies on starting and expanding business enterprises.  Head of the U.S. delegation, Under Secretary of State Paula Dobriansky, says the summit's goal "is to advance the role of women in the 21st-century economy through technology, networking, and public/private partnerships."  (complete text) [Read More]

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Women and the Transition to Democracy: Iraq, Afghanistan, Beyond

As events in Iraq unfold, we will continue our efforts to work with Iraqi women and men to ensure their participation in a free and open Iraq. And there is plenty of work to be done, in every area where we typically support women’s issues: from human rights, to political participation, to economic opportunity, to education. Unfortunately, some people still believe that totalitarian regimes like Saddam’s offer “progress” on women’s rights under a dictator’s thumb. To be sure, most Iraqi women have not been secluded at home, as were women under the rule of the Taliban and some other backward regimes. Yet in reality, Iraqi women have not fared well at all by world standards, whether in education, employment, or health care, under the brutal Ba’ath regime. Nor, for that matter, of course, have Iraqi men. Iraq was once a seat of great learning and social progress. But now, according to UNESCO figures, only one-quarter of Iraqi women can read and write; even the World Bank’s fig ... [Read More]

Iraq and Afghanistan: Accomplishments and Next Steps

Local governance creates demands for democracy, the equitable distribution of resources, and provides local populations with basic services. Iraqis are experiencing new freedoms. For the first time, the Iraqi people have the freedom to vote and run for office. Together with CPA and civil affairs officers, we have designed an interim local government structure to represent the population in the Baghdad metropolitan area. Just through our work alone, more than 200 neighborhood advisory councils have been established, representing more than half of Iraq's people and all of Baghdad's 88 neighborhoods. This neighborhood council program is being established in 14 other governorates across the country. These councils are coordinating the provision of essential services. USAID is also partnering with the CPA, coalition forces, Iraqi provincial and municipal governments and others to deliver essential services, promote Iraqi citizen participation in decision making at the grass ... [Read More]