09-01-05 Reading the Iraq Constitution

The Iraq constitution is out, and can be read here. It's worth a look. Mostly, it looks farmiliar. There is a president, some hot bicameral action, and a judiciary. Of course, in this case, the judiciary is to be made up of "a number of judges and experts in Sharia (Islamic Law)", which could mean any number of things. But, more of Sharia law some other day.
What impressed me were some of the social statememts. Of course, all of this is just words on paper right now, and only Allah knows how it will play out in history, but it's pretty agressive in some areas. Let's take a look:

Here, we have universal health care:

Article (30): 1st - The state guarantees social and health insurance, the basics for a free and honourable life for the individual and the family - especially children and women - and works to protect them from illiteracy, fear and poverty and provides them with housing and the means to rehabilitate and take care of them. This shall be regulated by law.


And, the public guarentee of health services as a basic right.

Article (31): 1st - Every Iraqi has the right to health service, and the state is in charge of public health and guarantees the means of protection and treatment by building different kinds of hospitals and health institutions. 2nd - Individuals and associations have the right to build hospitals, dispensaries or private clinics under the supervision of the state. This shall be regulated by law.


Here is a statement of environmental responsibility. I like it. We all have a right to biodiversity and atmospheric quality.

Article (33): 1st - Every individual has the right to live in a correct environmental atmosphere. 2nd - The state guarantees protection and preservation of the environment and biological diversity.


A strong statement on eduction. I like the "free in all it's stages" part.

Article (34): 1st - Education is a main factor for the progress of society and it is a right guaranteed by the state. It is mandatory in the primary school and the state guarantees fighting illiteracy. 2nd - Free education is a right for Iraqis in all its stages. 3rd - The state encourages scientific research for peaceful purposes in a way that benefits humanity and it promotes excelling, creativity and the different manifestations of excellence. 4th - Private and national education is guaranteed and regulated by law.


Bummer that our forfathers left this line out.

Article (39) 3rd - Forced labour, slavery and the commerce in slaves is forbidden, as is the trading in women or children or the sex trade.


How about this? I dare the US congress to match this one!

Article (151): A proportion of no less than 25 percent of the seats in the Council of Representatives is specified for the participation of women.


And, finally, the coffin nail to the wesern oil companies, public oil!

Article (109): Oil and gas is the property of all the Iraqi people in all the regions and provinces.


Oh, it gets better.

Article (110): 1st - The federal government will administer oil and gas extracted from current fields in cooperation with the governments of the producing regions and provinces on condition that the revenues will be distributed fairly in a manner compatible with the demographical distribution all over the country. A quota should be defined for a specified time for affected regions that were deprived in an unfair way by the former regime or later on, in a way to ensure balanced development in different parts of the country. This should be regulated by law. 2nd - The federal government and the governments of the producing regions and provinces together will draw up the necessary strategic policies to develop oil and gas wealth to bring the greatest benefit for the Iraqi people, relying on the most modern techniques of market principles and encouraging investment.


You know, I'm still waiting for my check from the US oil fields. Maybe it got lost in the mail.