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Iraqi women call for urgent action against rising violence

IRAQI women are demanding urgent government action to enshrine protection from sexist violence in law, warning that the lives of millions of women and young girls are in danger.

The Iraqi Women’s League, which has played a leading role in the revolutionary movement pressing for deep political change in the country, said that violence against women is increasing due to the current emergency measures to contain coronavirus.

Iraq’s lockdown and curfew have been accompanied by “ever more forms of atrocity and brutality, defying all ethical and humanitarian norms,” the group told the Star.

Government agencies are weak in dealing with the issues facing women in Iraq. There is a lack of adequate legislation and the country has failed to fulfil its international obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.

The treaty was adopted by the United Nations general assembly in 1979 and has now been signed by more than 50 countries, including Iraq in 1986.

But the situation has deteriorated since the two US-led invasions and subsequent occupation, with the women’s-rights situation now said to be at its worst in the country’s history.

In the Global Gender Inequality Index, Iraq is in 120th place out of 153 countries.

Major official violations of women’s rights include a law requiring rape victims to marry their attacker, rather than punishment for the rapist, and article 41 of the Iraqi penal code, which allows a husband to beat his wife to “discipline” her.

The league demanded the establishment of more women’s shelters to provide safety from rising violence.

It also called for urgent government measures to build “a society free from violence, injustice and exploitation, ensuring safety and security for its women and girls and respect for their human rights.”

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