UN welcomes Iraqi Leadership’s Support for Enactment of Anti-Domestic Violence Law

Under the auspices, and in the presence, of the President of the Republic, H.E. Barham Salih, an advocacy meeting to sensitize decision-makers to need to endorse of the Anti-Domestic Violence Law in the Council of Representatives was held at the presidential palace on 5 May 2019. Also in attendance were Iraq’s First Lady Serbag Salih; Second Deputy Speaker of the Council of Representatives, Dr. Bashir Haddad; the Director-General of the Women Empowerment Department at the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Dr. Ibtisam Aziz; the British Ambassador to Iraq, Jon Wilks, representing the donor community; other diplomats and UN officials.

Addressing the meeting, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq, Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert welcomed the Iraqi leadership’s support for the law and for engaging in consultations aimed at consolidating the inputs of many stakeholders.

“We encourage a law that conforms to international human rights standards and norms, in line with the Iraqi Constitution which prohibits all forms of violence and abuse within the family,” Ms. Hennis-Plasschaert said in remarks at the meeting. She offered UN technical assistance for a draft law which, she stressed, will fully be aligned with the Iraqi Constitution and protects the most vulnerable.