UNAMI organises consultative forum in the context of Global Open Day on UNSCR 1325

Baghdad, Iraq, 21 October 2018 - In the context of the Global Open Day on UNSCR 1325 and on the 18th anniversary of the adoption of the resolution, the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) organised a consultative forum with civil society, women’s rights activists, human rights defenders, journalists and members of the Iraqi Bar Association as well as the High Judicial Council to discuss concerns of the civil society regarding the application of Article 38 (9) of the Iraqi Penal Code, which permits the nullification of rape charges when perpetrators of rape marry their victims.

Lawyers and volunteers from the Baghdad Women Association provided a detailed briefing on the activities of a network of 20 civil society activists, who in 2015 launched the campaign #Marriage_Does_Not_Nullify_Rape. The campaign raises awareness against rape, calling for accountability for perpetrators of rape who often marry their victims to escape conviction. The meeting also discussed the lessons learned from the advocacy campaign and the development of new strategies and collaboration aimed at lobbying the Council of Representatives’ (CoR) relevant Committees so that they may revise, amend or abolish the Article.

Participants called for:

• The possible revision, amendment or abolishment of Article 38 (9) of the Penal Code 111 of 1969
• The CoR to adopt laws to protect women and children from violence
• Enactment of a Sexual Offences Law to penalise the various types of sexual violence crimes
• Further Consultations with the High Judicial Council, Council of Representatives Committees - Legal, Human Rights, Tribal, Women’s Committees - as well as the newly established women caucus/bloc and the United Nations support to highlight the plight of victims of rape.