European Parliament calls for ‘immediate rejection’ of Iraq’s Personal Status Law amendment
European Parliament calls for ‘immediate rejection’ of Iraq’s Personal Status Law amendment
2024-10-11 01:09
Shafaq News/ The European Parliament called on the Iraqi Parliament to completely and immediately reject the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law.
According to an official statement translated by Shafaq News Agency, members of the European Parliament warned of the consequences of this latest proposal, which violates Iraq’s international obligations regarding women’s basic rights.
Members commended women, including Iraqi MPs who condemned the proposal, as well as NGOs, activists and civil society members, who are fighting to preserve one of the most progressive laws in the region.
They argued that the Penal Code does not legally protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence in Iraq, and therefore the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law, “if enacted,” would lead to a “more radical” application of the law.
The European Parliament, in a resolution adopted yesterday, Thursday, urged Iraq to adopt a national action plan to eliminate child marriage, criminalize marital rape, combat domestic violence, and promote the rights of women and girls, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The European Parliament called on the EU delegation in Iraq to “make development grants conditional on judicial training on sexual violence and the establishment of shelters for women, and to call on member states to increase their support to women’s and children’s rights defenders in the country.”
shafaq.com
