Agreement on Political Process

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Country/entity: Iraq
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Agreement on Political Process
Date: 15 Nov 2003
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Iraq Wars and the Iraqi Insurgency (1989-1990) (2004 - )
In the aftermath of the Iraq-UN conflict following President Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait in 1989, the UN enforced no-fly zones and set up a monitoring commission of the arms capacity of the Iraqi government. By the late 1990s, Iraqi officials had increased their resistance against the implementation of these programmes. In the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York, the U.S. accused the Iraqi government of having weapons of mass destruction. In 2003, a U.S.-led coalition overthrew the government of Saddam Hussein, but failed to maintain security in the country as ex-Bathist and Islamist groups launched a counter-campaign. Violence reached a peak in 2006 as the conflict took on sectarian traits leading to mass human rights violations by domestic Sunni and Shi’a groups, as well as occupying forces. Despite the failure to stabilize the country, the U.S.-led forces withdrew in December 2011. Since then Iraq has effectively been split into three territories based on ethno-religious identity including the Shi’a in the south, the Kurds in the north, and a Sunni band in the middle, which is currently occupied by the organisation known as the Islamic State (formerly of Iraq and the Levant).
Stage: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government
Peace process: Iraq peace process - second Iraq war
Parties: Jalal Talabani, For the Governing Council; L. Paul Bremer and David Richmond, For the Coalition Provisional Authority.
Third parties: -
Description: Short agreement between Coalition Provisional Authority and the Governing Council of Iraq for the establishment of a Fundamental Law, the selection Transitional National Assembly, and the eventual restoration of sovereignty to Iraqi governing bodies.

Agreement document: IQ_031115_Agreement_on_Political_Process.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Main category: Page 1, 1. The "Fundamental Law"
... - Elements of the "Fundamental Law":
o Bill of rights, to include freedom of speech, legislature, religion; statement of equal rights of all Iraqis, regardless of gender, sect, and ethnicity; and guarantees of due process.

Women, girls and gender

Participation: No specific mention.
Equality: Equality→Equality (general)
Page 1, 1. The "Fundamental Law"
... - Elements of the "Fundamental Law":
o Bill of rights, to include freedom of speech, legislature, religion; statement of equal rights of all Iraqis, regardless of gender, sect, and ethnicity; and guarantees of due process.
Particular groups of women: No specific mention.
International law: International law→General IHRL, IHL and IL
Page 1, 1. The "Fundamental Law"
... - Elements of the "Fundamental Law":
o Bill of rights, to include freedom of speech, legislature, religion; statement of equal rights of all Iraqis, regardless of gender, sect, and ethnicity; and guarantees of due process.
New institutions: No specific mention.
Violence against women: No specific mention.
Transitional justice: No specific mention.
Institutional reform: No specific mention.
Development: No specific mention.
Implementation: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Agreement on Political Process

November 15, 2003

1. The "Fundamental Law"

To be drafted by the Governing Council, in close consultation with the CPA.

Will be approved by both the GC and CPA, and will formally set forth the scope and structure of the sovereign Iraqi transitional administration.

Elements of the "Fundamental Law":

Bill of rights, to include freedom of speech, legislature, religion;

statement of equal rights of all Iraqis, regardless of gender, sect, and ethnicity;

and guarantees of due process.

Federal arrangement for Iraq, to include governorates and the separation and specification of powers to be exercised by central and local entities.

Statement of the independence of the judiciary, and a mechanism for judicial review.

Statement of civilian political control over Iraqi armed and security forces.

Statement that Fundamental Law cannot be amended.

An expiration date for Fundamental Law.

Timetable for drafting of Iraq's permanent constitution by a body directly elected by the Iraqi people;

for ratifying the permanent constitution;

and for holding elections under the new constitution.

Drafting and approval of "Fundamental Law" to be complete by February 28, 2004.

2. Agreements with Coalition on Security

To be agreed between the CPA and the GC.

Security agreements to cover status of Coalition forces in Iraq, giving wide latitude to provide for the safety and security of the Iraqi people.

Approval of bilateral agreements complete by the end of March 2004.

3. Selection of Transitional National Assembly

Fundamental Law will specify the bodies of the national structure, and will ultimately spell out the process by which individuals will be selected for these bodies.

However, certain guidelines must be agreed in advance.

The transitional assembly will not be an expansion of the GC.

The GC will have no formal role in selecting members of the assembly, and will dissolve upon the establishment and recognition of the transitional administration.

Individual members of the GC will, however, be eligible to serve in the transitional assembly, if elected according to the process below.

Election of members of the Transitional National Assembly will be conducted through a transparent, participatory, democratic process of caucuses in each of Iraq's 18 governorates.

In each governorate, the CPA will supervise a process by which an "Organizing Committee" of Iraqis will be formed.

This Organizing Committee will include 5 individuals appointed by the Governing Council, 5 individuals appointed by the Provincial Council, and 1 individual appointed by the local council of the five largest cities within the governorate.

The purpose of the Organizing Committee will be to convene a "Governorate Selection Caucus" of notables from around the governorate.

To do so, it will solicit nominations from political parties, provincial/local councils, professional and civic associations, university faculties, tribal and religious groups.

Nominees must meet the criteria set out for candidates in the Fundamental Law.

To be selected as a member of the Governorate Selection Caucus, any nominee will need to be approved by an 11/15 majority of the Organizing Committee.

Each Governorate Selection Caucus will elect representatives to represent the governorate in the new transitional assembly based on the governorate's percentage of Iraq's population

The Transitional National Assembly will be elected no later than May 31, 2004.

4. Restoration of Iraq's Sovereignty

Following the selection of members of the transitional assembly, it will meet to elect an executive branch, and to appoint ministers.

By June 30, 2004 the new transitional administration will be recognized by the Coalition, and will assume full sovereign powers for governing Iraq.

The CPA will dissolve.

5. Process for Adoption of Permanent Constitution

The constitutional process and timeline will ultimately be included in the Fundamental Law, but need to be agreed in advance, as detailed below.

A permanent constitution for Iraq will be prepared by a constitutional convention directly elected by the Iraqi people.

Elections for the convention will be held no later than March 15, 2005.

A draft of the constitution will be circulated for public comment and debate.

A final draft of the constitution will be presented to the public, and a popular referendum will be held to ratify the constitution.

Elections for a new Iraqi government will be held by December 31, 2005, at which point the Fundamental Law will expire and a new government will take power.

For the Governing Council:

_____________________

Jalal Talabani

For the Coalition Provisional Authority:

_____________________

L. Paul Bremer

_____________________

David Richmond