Remarks by Claudio Cordone, Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Iraq for Political Affairs and Electoral Assistance, and UNAMI Officer-in-Charge

Your Excellency, President of the Republic, Dr. Abdul Latif Rashid,

Your Excellency, Prime Minister, Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani,

Your Excellency, President of Supreme Judicial Council, Dr. Faiq Zeidan

Your Excellency, Acting Council of Representative Speaker Mohsen al-Mandalawi

Your Eminence, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, 

Distinguished participants,

I am honored to participate on behalf of the United Nations in this conference, marking the Islamic Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. I applaud the efforts of the al-Hakim Foundation, and specifically those of His Eminence Sayyid al-Hakim, for convening this yearly event.

Allow me to start by commending the efforts of the Government for its commitment to combatting violence against women and supporting Iraqi women in general.  I welcome the address of the Prime Minister to the High Council for Women Affairs on 25 July urging government entities to expedite the implementation of decisions concerning women. 

I also welcome the role of the High Council in engaging with the Parliamentary Committee for Women, Family and Childhood as a positive example of how the expertise and experience of Iraqi women can inform the country’s legislative agenda, including the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law. I urge political leaders to ensure that any proposed legislation protects the rights of women and children, in line with Iraq’s international human rights commitments.

Also with regard to legislation, I urge the Council of Representatives to adopt the long awaited law against domestic violence. I wish to highlight in particular the importance of the establishment of shelters for persons at risk of such violence. We need to support the survivors, often forced to suffer in silence, and bring to justice the perpetrators. The law should also deter potential offenders, ultimately contributing to a safer family environment­. Let’s not forget, not only women, but also children, the elderly and other family members are at risk of such violence and deserve to be fully protected by the law, in accordance with Iraq’s international commitments and the best Iraqi traditions, religious and cultural values.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Enhancing women’s political participation is another important goal of the government, and in this regard UNAMI continues to work closely with the High Committee to Support Women’s Political Participation and the Independent High Electoral Commission. In the Governorate Council elections last December women won 76 out of 285 seats, equal to 26.7 per cent of the total number of seats, thus surpassing the minimum 25 per cent quota.  While that is an important achievement, it is regrettable that no women have been appointed as governors, deputy governors or chairs of governorate councils, which shows there is more work to do before women are integrated into the decision-making processes and structures.  I look forward to more efforts being taken to promote women’s political participation, also by all political parties, for the forthcoming elections for the Kurdistan Region parliament, and later the elections for the Council of Representatives. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

We have recently commemorated the anniversary of the Yazidi genocide. We wish to stress the importance of supporting the survivors and bringing to justice through fair trials the members of Da’esh responsible for abhorrent crimes of sexual violence targeting women and girls from the Yazidi community, as well as from other communities.  The United Nations welcomed the adoption of the 2021 Yazidi Survivors’ Law. We call for its implementation at greater speed, and for its expansion to cover victims from all communities, including women forced into marriage by Da’esh, as well as children born of rape.  This would be in line with the 2016 Joint Communique of the Republic of Iraq and the United Nations on Prevention and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, which includes commitments to support survivors and ensure accountability. 

In conclusion, I wish to reiterate the full commitment of the United Nations to supporting the Government, state institutions and civil society in protecting and promoting the rights of women and girls in Iraq.  UNAMI is doing so in compliance with its mandate which will terminate at the end of 2025, while the United Nations Country Team will continue to do so. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

The road ahead is full of challenges but also great opportunities for women and girls in Iraq. In the end everyone will gain from promoting women’s rights, as Iraq continues to build its own path towards a fairer, more inclusive society.

Thank you.