The BRussells Tribunal wants to present a new important survey it has published: Deterioration of Women’s rights and Living Conditions Under Occupation, written by Iraqi scientist Dr. Souad N. Al-Azzawi, specialist on the subject of depleted uranium and member of our Advisory Committee: (http://www.brusselstribunal.org/pdf/WomenUnderOccupation.pdf)The conclusions of this study are devastating for the US occupiers and confirm earlier studies, polls and surveys like the Lancet survey and ORB. And even worse: the survey concludes that the total number of deaths amongst the 4.5 million internally displaced or forced migrated people both inside and outside the country is estimated to be 868,500.The occupation has destroyed the state and nation of Iraq and is continuing to annihilate the population.The US war machine is committing genocide against the people of Iraq.Some of the conclusions:- The unemployment rate is 85% amongst women in the studied population.- 47% of the women in the study hold some form of higher education degrees including Ph.D.s. When this number is added to high school graduates, the percentage rises to 70.6%.- The biggest reasons of unemployment are a lack of security and sectarian violence in the country.- About 36% of the families have no income or an income of less than $100/month. Women and children are made to beg or do menial labor or even work as prostitutes to feed their families.- Out of the 150 studied families, 87 of them have family members who were killed. There is a high mortality rate of 193 per 1000, indicating the existence of genocide amongst the migrated or displaced population. The studied population is a bias group targeted by the occupation forces and sectarian militias. The total number of deaths amongst the 4.5 million internally displaced or forced migrated people both inside and outside the country is estimated to be 868,500.- The highest percentage of killings occur due to sectarian militias, followed by occupation forces excessive use of violence (torture etc..).- The 66 missing members of the studied families represent 12.69% of the members of the studied population, most of who left home for schools, colleges, work, etc. and never came back. Others were captured by guards and security forces and there is no information regarding their current whereabouts.- About a third of the studied women in the group have developed some form of psychological or other stress related illness.20% of the students in the studied families are failing school. Major causes include emotional damage as a result of having one or more family members killed and an inability to focus.- 50% of the students in the studied population are school dropouts. Major causes of quitting include a lack of security and forced displacement or migration. Male student dropouts are higher in number than females.- The mortality rate among the displaced population is 193 per 1000Please read and spread this important survey.Dirk AdriaensensMember BRussells Tribunal executive committeeCoordinator SOS IraqDeterioration of Iraqi Women's Rights and LivingConditions Under OccupationDr. Souad N. Al-AzzawiAssociate Professor in Environmental EngineeringBaghdad, Iraq – 19 December 2007.Abstract:For centuries, Iraqi women struggled for their human rights. It wasn't until the 1960's that some improvements in constitutional women's rights were implemented. During the seventies and eighties, women's rights improved significantly, providing better educational opportunities, political involvement, equal job opportunities, health care and development of laws and regulations to ensure a better life for Iraqi women and girls.Deterioration of women's rights in Iraq began during the US-UN comprehensive economical sanctions imposed on Iraqi during the nineties. In 2003, the invasion of Iraq by the USA and its allies resulted in the descent of the rights of women just like other elements in Iraqi society, infrastructure and the general quality of life.To define the extent of the USA occupation impact on women's rights and living conditions, a survey composed of 21 questions was distributed in two major cities:Inside Baghdad, Iraq in the Karada District, andKudsiya area in Damascus, Syria where more than 200,000 Iraqi refugees live.The 150 women who answered the survey were a part of 150 families or households composed of a total of 502 Iraqis.Statistical analysis of the questions of the survey indicated dangerous trends in the security status that drove Iraqi women out of their jobs, where 85% of the studied women are unemployed (taking into consideration that the large majority of this percentage have a formal education). The study also indicated that 36% of the studied families lived with no income or a very low income of $100/month or less which has lead to women and children doing menial labor or begging. Also, it was found that 87 families have a victim of either occupation forces or sectarian violence. The mortality rate among this targeted displaced population is 193 per 1000. this high mortality rate is an indication of genocide existing amongst the migrated and displaced population. Missing family members rate at 12.7, and it is also estimated that 20% of the students of the studied women's families are having difficulties and failing schools. A percentage of other students quit school altogether.The occupation is totally responsible for the deterioration and destruction of women's lives and rights in Iraq. Iraqi women under occupation need the help of their sisters in international women's organizations abroad to help protect them and protect their rights. They also have the right to resist the occupier in every way available to reclaim their lost lives and ensure a better life for themselves and their families.Read the whole survey at http://www.brusselstribunal.org/pdf/WomenUnderOccupation.pdf
