Speech of Dr. Mohamed Al Hassan Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq 17th Conference on Combating Violence Against Women

Distinguished Presidents,

Distinguished Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am pleased to participate with you on behalf of the United Nations Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) in this event.

I would like to start by expressing my condolences for all the martyrs, including the martyrs of Al Kut.

It is an honor to participate in the seventeenth edition of this conference. I would like to thank His Eminence, Sayyid Ammar al-Hakim, for his gracious and continuous sponsorship of this conference. I also appreciate your presence despite your engagements.

What we are addressing today is part of the message of eternal humanity, the message of Islam, the message of peace, the message of the promotion of virtue and the prevention of vice. Let us not forget the last commandments of the great Prophet, Muhammad bin Abdullah, may God bless him, his family and companions, when he, who “does not speak out of (his own) desire. It is not but revelation revealed”, said: (Act kindly towards women). Indeed, these are immortal words that are relevant to this conference.

I stand before you today, and participate in this event, recommending and demanding the preservation of the status of women, the restoration of all their rights, their empowerment, in accordance with what is pleasing to God and His Prophet.

Ladies and Gentlemen, women are the basis of society.

My question to those attending and those following this event is: Are you satisfied with the status of women? Do women in Islamic societies enjoy their full rights?

In fact, what we see and hear today regarding violence and marginalization against women is unfair, a deviation from the right guidance, and a departure from nature. If family is the foundation of society, and women are the bulwark of family, how can we explain domestic violence, violence against women, and the deliberate and systematic marginalization of women, including digital marginalization, underage marriage, and gender-based discrimination?

Yes, there are women who have reached high ranks and positions in state and society institutions, but the path and behavior to that end is still rough and full of thorns and obstacles, not to mention how few women in positions of responsibility are.

I call on you and myself to return to the normal fundamentals and to work together towards restoring the status, consideration, respect and protection of women in general, which can only be achieved by facilitating and simplifying the procedures of women's participation not as a "rival", but as a "partner".

Allow me to mention here the persecution of a number of Iraqi women from different sects, especially Yazidi women, Christians and followers of other religions, who were subjected to the most heinous crimes at the hands of ISIS, including kidnapping, selling and enslavement. These crimes and their effects are continuing to this day. Yes, dear brothers, we welcome the measures you have taken, but our question is when will the suffering of Yazidi women end? Aren’t they Iraqis? When will they be honored like the rest of the Iraqi women? When will they return to their homes with honor and dignity, to Sinjar and other places? When will this suffering end?

The justice of Islam is for all. We do not doubt your positions, and your ability to achieve justice and change reality. The sublime message of Islam came as a mercy for all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the United Nations, we stress our stand with Iraq, Iraq's leaders, and Iraq's pillars. We call for the standard of equality to be based on citizenship. Everyone has rights, and everyone has duties and responsibilities.

We call on you, the leaders and people of Iraq, to prioritize the issues and rights of women in the upcoming elections.

We call on you to involve women in decision-making positions, not as a courtesy, but as a consideration of women as partners in positions of responsibility, not as a symbolic matter, but as a real and broad partnership.

We at the United Nations are with you in this endeavor, in order to put women at the forefront in these upcoming parliamentary elections. What prevents women from being in the top positions in this country? They are among the most honorable women, in the past, present and future.

Let us work together to change the reality of the women in Iraq to the better.

This is not the place to condemn violence against women, but rather to take practical and concrete decisions and steps to end violence against Iraqi women, spread justice, equality, and review laws.