Iraqi women are calling on parliament to pass a landmark draft bill to ban domestic abuse against women, which has the backing of President Barham Salih but has failed to progress since it was first proposed eight years ago.
Forced marriage and violence against women has increased in Iraq as the country tackles the destruction of years of war and widespread corruption.
Mr Salih said in a statement that the bill, which was sent to parliament on Sunday, aims to protect Iraqi families, especially women and girls, from "all forms of gender-based violence", to punish the perpetrators, provide protection to victims and compensate them for damages.
The draft must now be reviewed by parliament, if passed it will also help provide women with the necessary care and rehabilitation through the establishment of “safe centres for victims of abuse”, the president said. However, it could very well again languish due to vocal opposition among member of Islamist parties.
Women's rights groups have been pushing for the legislation of the bill since 2011, Sohaila Al Assam, a prominent women’s rights activist, told The National.
“Violence against women in Iraq is increasing day by day because there are no laws that protect them from domestic abuse and violence,” she said, adding that granting women legal protection will be beneficial for them, society and the country.
Progress on the bill has stagnated due to divisions in Iraq since the overthrow of former dictator Saddam Hussein, and especially since Islamist parties took over leadership of the government and have sought to impose their religious values on society.
The draft law must be supported by the police forces, interior and health ministries, Ms Al Assam said, in order for women to exercise their rights. “We need their help and assistance in passing this law,” she said.
Ali Al Bayati, a board member of the Independent High Commission for Human Rights in Iraq, said that it is also imperative that the law includes clear penalties for anyone that attempts to abuse women or children.
“It is necessary to accelerate the enactment of this law. It must include preventive programmes to eradicate the idea of gender discrimination within the family and the enslavement of women or children,” Mr Al Bayati said.
The human rights worker said Iraqi women have been subjected to a number of “catastrophes”, which only increased after ISIS seized large areas of the country.
“They assaulted Iraqi families and raped and enslaved women and girls,” Mr Al Bayati said.
Iraq’s current personal status law enshrines women’s rights regarding marriage, inheritance, and child custody, and has often been held up as the most progressive in the Middle East. But domestic violence is yet to be addressed and observers fear that the bill will not get parliament’s approval.
Although the Iraqi constitution expressly prohibits “all forms of violence and abuse in the family,” only the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has a law on domestic violence.
For a law to be successfully implemented it would need a strong institutional and societal infrastructure. This does not currently exist in Iraq, said Balsam Mustafa, researcher on Iraqi politics and society.
“This law will face many barriers hindering its implementation,” she said, adding that corruption, bribes, and a lack of integrity will present obstacles.
Ms Mustafa said that Islamist parties claim the women's rights bill is not in-keeping with their values.
by Mina Aldroubi
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