Baghdad women organize event to tackle violence against women on Human Rights Day

BAGHDAD – A group of Baghdad women gathered in Abu Nawas Park to host events advocating against violence toward women as part of the global Human Rights Day and the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign.

The initiative was spearheaded by journalist Haneen Ghanem, who was inspired to act after posting a question on Instagram asking, “Have you experienced abuse?” The overwhelming and shocking responses motivated her to organize the event.

The gathering featured a live art exhibition and brought together women survivors of abuse, community activists, lawyers, and mental health specialists. Former MP Ala Talabani attended and criticized the Iraqi parliament’s neglect of critical legislation.

“Anti-domestic violence laws have been shelved for three parliamentary cycles, and instead of amending laws to better support women, proposed changes to the Personal Status Law often work against them,” Talabani told 964media. “Without deterrent laws, addressing violence becomes nearly impossible.”

In Aug. 2024, Iraq’s parliament proposed amendments to the 1959 Personal Status Law, aiming to transfer jurisdiction over family matters—including marriage, divorce, and inheritance—to religious authorities. This shift could permit child marriages, with reports indicating the legal marriage age for girls might be lowered to as young as nine.

The United Nations reports that 80% of women worldwide experience some form of online violence, a figure exacerbated by the misuse of social media.

One survivor, Ghazal Khaled, recounted her harrowing experience of domestic abuse. “I suffered violence and infidelity in my marriage. It was a dark period, but I overcame it for the sake of my son, who was just nine days old then and is now ten years old,” she said. Khaled sustained a fractured skull, broken ribs, and hearing loss due to the abuse. Her ex-husband was sentenced to six months in prison and fined one million dinars. “The goal wasn’t financial; I just wanted him to face justice and not harm another woman.”

Organizer Haneen Ghanem stressed the urgency of addressing violence against women in Iraq. “According to UN statistics, a woman is killed every 10 minutes globally, and one in three women experiences violence. We lack precise statistics in Iraq,” she said. Ghanem added, “To combat violence, we need the involvement of tribes, families, and legal systems. Unfortunately, civil society, the legal profession, and even women themselves are often complicit by failing to report abuse or advocate for change.”.

The event shed light on the pressing need for systemic reforms to protect women and enforce laws addressing gender-based violence in Iraq.