…the protest movement in Iraq in 2019 and 2020, which continues today, has mobilized a younger generation of women who will not be satisfied with the status quo˳
In 2008, the United Nations Human Rights High Commissioner issued a press release stating: “Violence against Iraqi women continues unabated,” while the world observes from a distance˳
As the UN this month marks its annual 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the violence in Iraq continues in multiple forms, including domestic and sexual, in addition to brutal retaliation for political activism˳ But through local NGOs and global organizations, the world is now watching from inside the country and documenting the violence and inequalities˳
An estimated 1˳3 million people in Iraq (out of a population of 40 million) are estimated to be at risk for different forms of gender-based violence, and more than 75 percent of them are women and adolescent girls˳ 77 percent of reported incidences are linked to domestic violence; although, Iraqi experts on the ground say many cases go unreported largely because the perpetrators are unlikely to be punished˳
Article 41 of the Iraqi Penal Code grants men the right to discipline their wives and children˳ In such patriarchal societies as Iraq, the line between “discipline” and violence is thin˳ In addition, there are no domestic violence laws, making it almost impossible for victims to file complaints with police˳ In the absence of a law making domestic violence a crime, many victims fear that contacting law enforcement will only mean more punishment at home˳
Many Iraqi laws still do not comply with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), which the country ratified in 1986˳ Even in cases of murder, article 409 of the Penal Code states that the punishment for a man who kills or beats his wife or female relative is only up to three years in prison˳ And, a judge, who is usually male, has the discretion to reduce the sentence to as little as six months˳
As with many countries in the MENA region, domestic and sexual violence are among the highest in the world, according to the World Bank˳ At least 35 percent of women in MENA have experienced some form of violence by an intimate partner during their lifetime – placing MENA second highest in the world˳ In all probability, even this figure is even higher because of lack of reporting and public discussion˳
In Iraq, such social ills are still considered taboo subjects, making it difficult for local NGOs to help women address the problem˳ According to statistics published by the Iraqi Ministry of Planning, which were reported by the Iraq News Agency in 2021, violence by a husband against his wife includes economic violence (22 percent), verbal abuse (12 percent) and physical violence (3˳6 percent)˳
“Honor killings” – which are committed across the MENA region generally by men when they think a female family member has violated social or religious norms – remain widespread in Iraq, in part due to lack of legislation to prevent and punish them˳ Further, penal codes all but encourage them by allowing mitigated sentencing for murder in certain cases, according to a 2020 report prepared for the UN Human Rights Committee˳
Groups such as Women Network in Iraq, Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, and Iraqi Women’s Rights Organization – all created over the last 10 years – are drawing attention to the problem and calling for the parliament to enact a law against domestic violence˳ However, they face enormous obstacles primarily because the parliament is often comprised of MPs from religious parties who argue that such laws would destroy the social fabric of the Iraqi family˳
Socially conservative views about women, how they dress and behave still permeate Iraqi society, often causing women who wish to express their desire for a different lifestyle to pay the price˳ In 2018, a spate of killings of high-profile women demonstrated the push back˳ One woman, 22-year-old Tara Fares, a model, former beauty queen, and social media star who had tattoos and was photographed with heavy makeup and revealing attire, was shot dead in Baghdad˳ She had 2˳7 million followers on Instagram˳
Women’s increased political activism, particularly their participation in the national protests in 2019 and 2020, also provoked patriarchal violence against them on the one hand and more liberation on the other˳ A small number of women created the “pink and purple protest” and staged sit-ins overnight, disobeying curfews˳ They protested in the streets even in the face of attacks by security forces˳ Many women were sprayed with teargas, threatened, assaulted, and in some cases killed˳
According to the report published in April 2020, which was prepared for the UN Human Rights Committee, Iraqi state security forces and Iranian-backed militias were killing, beating and kidnapping women and girls, including human rights defenders and medics, at the height of the protests˳
Despite all this violence, there is unlikely to be new legislation to protect women˳ But it is clear that the protest movement in Iraq in 2019 and 2020, which continues today, has mobilized a younger generation of women who will not be satisfied with the status quo˳
