Women’s Rights Organizations, Civil Society NGOs have been striving for years to introduce changes in Iraqi laws that are against the interests of women and their rights and applies unfair and discriminative provisions against women. These efforts were concluded by the initiative of His Excellency the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] Prime Minister’s decision to set up a committee to look into changes in the Personal Status Code.

 PRESS RELEASE

AS/SUL/08/468

Sulaymaniyah, Iraq

16 October 2008

Time to Amend Iraqi Personal Status Code

Women’s Rights Organizations, Civil Society NGOs have been striving for years to introduce changes in Iraqi laws that are against the interests of women and their rights and applies unfair and discriminative provisions against women. These efforts were concluded by the initiative of His Excellency the Kurdistan Regional Government [KRG] Prime Minister’s decision to set up a committee to look into changes in the Personal Status Code.

Despite the relentless efforts and initiatives of Women’s Rights Organizations as well as the authorities to protect women and their rights, the incidence of violence against women and other honor related crimes continues to be on the rise. Asuda, amongst other NGOs and organizations believes one of the key causes of violence against women and abuses of women’s rights is the applied laws in the region on one hand, and condoning of crimes against women on the other hand. Therefore, the amendment to the current Personal Status Code will significantly contribute to the protection of women and their rights.

In this context, the Kurdistan Parliament is due to debate by the end of October 2008, a proposed draft resolution drafted by a Special Committee set up by the KRG Prime Minister. The proposed draft project suggests amendments to articles and provisions in the Iraqi Personal Status Code that relate to women’s rights including, but not limited to, polygamy, Female Genital Mutilation [FM], divorce and other paragraphs related to rights of women.

Asuda is taking this opportunity to call upon Kurdish and international human rights originations to mobilize support to the proposed draft resolution to amend the existing Personal Status Code and actively participate in the debate on the proposed amendments to make sure the resolution is passed and formally legislated as a new law.

Asuda strongly supports the draft proposed resolution and call upon the esteemed Regional Parliament, MPs and officials to approve and vote for the resolution to ensure human rights of all citizens in the Kurdish society, including women, are respected and protected.

Khanum Raheem Lateef

Programme Manager

Asuda for Combating Violence against

Women

End of Statement