8th of March: A Difficult International Women’s Day for Iraq

A Statement from our partners of the Active Citizenship Campaign and us on behalf of International Women’s Day:

This year, International Women’s Day in Iraq carries a different weight—one filled with anxiety and uncertainty for women and girls across the country. The recent passage of controversial amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law has sparked deep concern, raising serious questions about women’s rights, child marriage, and the broader rule of law.

These amendments mean that the legal marriage age for girls will now be determined by their religious affiliation and sect. In some cases, this could be as young as nine years old, while for others, it may be 15. This shift moves away from a unified legal standard, creating an unequal system that leaves thousands of girls vulnerable to child marriage. Ensuring consistent legal protections for all women and girls is essential to safeguarding their rights and future.

International and national civil society organizations are working tirelessly to assess the impact of these amendments, particularly their role in undermining legal protections against violations such as child marriage. The erosion of legal safeguards not only threatens individual rights, but also weakens the judiciary’s authority as a defender of justice. These changes risk creating deep and lasting social injustices for women and girls in Iraq.

Beyond legal concerns, an increase in child marriage is likely to fuel further gender-based violence, including honor killings and domestic abuse. Meanwhile, due to the global political and economic climate and even more so the recent cut of development aid by America has made securing funding for civil society and local women led organizations efforts even more difficult, limiting their abilities to respond effectively, leaving a severe gap. Without adequate resources, the fight against gender-based violence and injustice becomes even more challenging.

Now more than ever, the people of Iraq—along with civil society organizations—must stand together to defend fundamental rights and protect the most vulnerable. The struggle for justice, equality, and human dignity must continue, undeterred.

Suleymaniah 03/07/2025

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