Statement from the Kurdistan Diaspora Women's Federation on the Amendment of the Iraqi Personal Status Law

Statement from the Kurdistan Diaspora Women's Federation on the Amendment of the Iraqi Personal Status Law

Any amendment to a law or bill by Parliament must consider all relevant dimensions, protect the public interest, and ensure the rights of individuals.

Unfortunately, there is currently an effort by some Iraqi parliamentarians to amend Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959. This proposed amendment, which permits the court to detain girls as young as nine years old, represents a grave violation of children's rights and an act of oppression against them. Moreover, this amendment also sanctions out-of-court marriages, which can lead to polygamy and a host of problems within the family, ultimately harming society at large, particularly women and children.

As the Kurdistan Diaspora Women's Federation, we stand firmly against this attempt to amend the law, as it undermines human rights and the progress and civilization of our society. We support all activists, humanitarians, and legal professionals who are working to prevent the passage of such an amendment that serves only a select group seeking to alter the law for their benefit.

We call upon all human rights activists abroad, representatives of countries in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, and international organizations specializing in women's and family issues to stand with us in opposing the amendment of the Iraqi Personal Status Law. This amendment would pave the way for human rights violations, violence against women and children, and the deterioration of family stability and order in society.

Kurdistan Diaspora Women's Federation