UNAMI Urges Wider Consultation on Draft Law Amending Personal Status Law to Ensure Respect and Protection of Women’s Rights

Attaining equality between women and men and eliminating all forms of discrimination against women and girls are fundamental human rights and United Nations values.

Women and girls in Iraq have suffered violations of their basic human rights and violence in armed conflict, in particular under the terrorist group Daesh. They aspire that the realization of their rights should be prioritized with a view to achieving equality with men. This requires a comprehensive understanding of legal and judicial remedies that sometimes hinder the realization of this equality. There is also a dire need for legal and institutional strategies to eliminate discrimination against women and girls.

“I call upon the Council of Representatives to seize this opportunity of the process to amend the Personal Status Law, repeatedly criticized by the United Nations treaty bodies, and conduct a wider consultation on the draft amendments in a participatory manner to recommit to and ensure the full respect, protection and fulfillment of women and girls’ rights in Iraq in relation to matrimonial and other matters,” Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq Ján Kubiš said.