Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq's statement on International Day For the Elimination of Violence against Women

On the International Day For the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November, and on the 16th national campaign to combat violence against women, once again we take a stand, with the aim of changing individuals’ and society’s understanding of the rights of women and girls, and their right to freedom in all areas of life.

As we know, the current economic and social situation in the Kurdistan Region has a doubly negative impact on women, first as individuals facing these pressures, and second as mothers and wives with the pressures and responsibilities of being the main caregiver in their families. Outside the home and workplace as well, the statistics on violations and abuses of women's rights are deeply troubling.

Our responsibility in the Kurdistan Parliament is to provide opportunities for the government, women’s rights organizations and other relevant authorities to propose laws and resolutions to support their work. With this aim, the Kurdistan Parliament on 23 November held the first reading of the legislative proposal on Combating Domestic Violence and Violence Against Women in the Kurdistan Region.

Previously Parliament passed Law No. 8 of 2011, the Law on the Protection of Families from Violence in the Kurdistan Region – Iraq, but since that law has been in force some gaps and problem became apparent, and it is Parliament’s responsibility to pass a new and better law.

We ask organizations that work on women's and human rights to help to enrich the bill by giving us their logical and practical suggestions on the draft.

Dr. Rewaz Faiq

Speaker of Kurdistan Parliament

25 November 2021