ASSYRIAN UNIVERSAL ALLIANCE Member, Unrepresented Nations & Peoples Organization (UNPO) United Nations Forum on Minority Issues 4th Session November 29-30, 2011 internal boundaries.5 Such engagement with minority communities will allow for a greater consciousness of the constitutional guarantees afforded to them in Iraq’s new democratic government. We applaud governments such as Iraq for establishing legal as well as constitutional provisions apportioning seats in the legislature for minorities and women.6 But the mere existences of these laws do not guarantee the realization of their goals. In furthering the objectives of Point 26 of the Draft Recommendations, we ask the Forum to realize the necessity of fostering organizations aimed at promoting political awareness, legal education and economic development initiatives, especially in regions that house a substantial minority population, so as to reintroduce communities – like Assyrians – in a country’s post-conflict redevelopment. Thank You. 5 U.N. Security Council, 6594th Session, Resolution 2001(2010) “The situation concerning Iraq” (S/RES/2011). http://www.uniraq.org/aboutus/mandate.asp 6 Article 49 Section 2 of the Iraqi Constitution aims to hold that 25% of the Iraqi parliament is comprised of women. Constitution of Iraq: http://www.uniraq.org/documents/iraqi_constitution.pdf. Electoral laws passed in 2008 guarantees religious minorities 6 seats: 3 for Christians and one for Yezidis, Shabaks and Mandeans each. The amount is half of the 12 seats recommended by the UN. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7706781.stm 307 Orchard City Dr., Suite 202, Campbell, CA www.AUA.net