Amid rising concern, Iraq’s parliament proposed a controversial amendment on 4 August 2024, permitting marriage as young as nine. This move has faced widespread condemnation for undermining the rights of women and children, shifting marriage and inheritance authority from the state to religious councils. Human Rights Watch warns this amendment signals a dangerous retreat from child rights protections established in Iraqi law.
The legislative process requires further readings and debate before a final vote; however, with considerable parliamentary support, the law may pass despite protests. The implications of this amendment threaten to deepen societal inequality and challenge Iraq’s standing in the international community, risking future civil rights violations.
Should the amendment succeed, it may dismantle current protections for young girls, worsening gender inequality. Child marriage, an existing crisis in Iraq, would likely escalate, leading to increased risks of domestic violence, early pregnancies, and educational disruption. The proposed law would erase the minimum marriage age of 18 and create loopholes for underage marriages.
This legislative change poses a threat not only to child rights but to women’s rights overall. The amendment signals a shift from secular governance towards sectarianism, heightening existing divisions in Iraq’s diverse society. Historical protections for women established by the Personal Status Law of 1959, considered progressive in the Middle East, may unravel under these new regulations.
The amendment risks dismantling decades of progress, allowing male authorities to interpret laws based on their doctrines. Opponents assert this fragmentation violates Iraq’s international commitments to gender equality under treaties like CEDAW. If passed, the amendment would tarnish Iraq’s global reputation and violate its obligations under human rights treaties.
As the legislative process unfolds, the likelihood of approval remains high due to the Shiite Coordination Framework’s influence. This political move appeals to conservative constituents, further entrenching sectarian authority in governance. Activists, human rights groups, and a coalition of civil society organisations are galvanising opposition against the amendment’s regressive consequences.
Individual voices like Yanar Mohammed’s highlight the amendment as a betrayal of vulnerable citizens. International human rights organisations have joined the chorus of condemnation, urging Iraqi lawmakers to reject this potentially damaging proposal. Amidst the swirling debate, Iraq finds itself at a critical crossroads; passing this amendment would jeopardise the progress made toward justice and equality for all citizens.
Iraq’s parliament proposed a controversial law permitting marriage as young as nine, facing backlash for threatening women’s and children’s rights. Critics warn it may dismantle existing legal protections and increase gender inequality. With the potential for the law’s passage, civil rights violations looms larger, calling for urgent opposition from activists and the international community.
The proposed amendment allowing child marriage in Iraq poses significant risks to women’s and children’s rights. It threatens to dismantle existing protections, returning the power of marriage and inheritance to religious councils, thus enabling a system vulnerable to abuse and discrimination. As the international community watches closely, there is a pressing need for activists and organisations to mobilise against this regressive legislation to safeguard Iraq’s future.
Original Source: www.fairobserver.com
