A proposed amendment to Iraq’s personal status law has ignited widespread criticism from human rights activists and international organizations. This amendment in Iraq seeks to lower the legal marriage age for girls to as young as 9 years old under certain religious interpretations and for boys from 18 to 15 years old. The controversial move has drawn attention to its potential to weaken protections for women and girls, especially in a country already grappling with societal and political instability.
Increased Vulnerability for Young Girls
Legalizing child marriage is expected to exacerbate the vulnerabilities of young girls, particularly in conflict-affected communities. Child brides face heightened risks of sexual and physical violence, poverty, and exploitation. Early marriages often lead to severe health complications, mental health issues, and the loss of education and employment opportunities.
Moreover, young girls forced into marriage are frequently withdrawn from school, cutting short their education and limiting their personal and financial independence. This perpetuates cycles of poverty and exploitation, leaving them trapped in an environment of systemic inequality.
Contradiction with Iraq’s Legal and International Obligations
The proposed amendment contradicts Iraq’s legal framework, which sets the current legal marriage age at 18. Furthermore, it breaches the country’s international obligations, including agreements to protect women and girls from harmful practices such as child marriage. By pushing for this change, Iraq risks violating its commitments and undermining its responsibility to safeguard human rights.
Power Shift to Religious Authorities
One of the most alarming aspects of the amendment is its potential to shift more power to religious authorities, diminishing the role of the state in protecting citizens’ rights. By enabling legal reforms that bypass democratic processes, the amendment removes essential checks and balances in the lawmaking process, raising concerns about future legal and social policies.
A Broader Rollback on Gender Equality
This proposal is part of a larger global trend of rolling back gender equality. Women’s rights activists and over a dozen female Iraqi parliamentarians have voiced strong opposition to the amendment, highlighting its regressive impact on gender equality.
Similar attempts to allow child marriage have been observed in other countries like Bangladesh and Somalia, where exceptions have been made for cases involving pregnancy or parental consent. Such exceptions normalize harmful practices and reinforce discriminatory gender norms, further entrenching inequality.
Child Marriage: A Violation of Human Rights
Child marriage is widely recognized as a violation of human rights. It deprives children of their right to education, health, and a safe environment, and reinforces gender-based discrimination. The proposed amendment not only undermines the rights of women and girls in Iraq but also tarnishes the country’s global image as a defender of human rights.
Call for International Action
Human rights groups stress the importance of continued international pressure to prevent the normalization of child marriage in Iraq. Advocates are urging the Iraqi government to uphold its commitments to protect women and girls from harmful practices and prioritize policies that promote gender equality and human rights.
The global community must act decisively to ensure that progress in women’s rights is not undone. Iraq’s young girls deserve a future defined by opportunity, education, and empowerment—not one constrained by premature marriage and systemic inequality.
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