Iraq’s parliament is considering a highly contentious amendment to the country’s personal status law, which would drastically lower the age of consent to nine and severely restrict women’s rights in divorce, child custody, and inheritance. This proposed change, spearheaded by conservative Shia Muslim parties, would effectively roll back Law 188, a landmark legislation from 1959 that protected families across various religious sects ¹.
The amendment has sparked widespread protests, with critics arguing it would enable child marriages and undermine women’s rights. If passed, Iraq would have the world’s lowest age of consent, surpassing Iran’s current minimum age of 13. Law 188 has been praised for its progressive stance on women’s rights, but this new amendment would erase decades of progress ¹.
Civil rights advocates, including Razaw Salihy from Amnesty International, are urging lawmakers to reconsider, emphasizing that these amendments would strip women and girls of vital protections and facilitate child marriages. The potential impact on women’s and girls’ lives across Iraq would be severe ¹.
Key Concerns:
- Lowering the Age of Consent: From 18 to 9, allowing child marriages
- Restricting Women’s Rights: In divorce, child custody, and inheritance
- Undermining Law 188: A landmark legislation protecting families across religious sects
- Global Implications: Iraq would have the world’s lowest age of consent
Civil society groups and international human rights organizations continue to advocate against the amendments, warning of lasting repercussions on women’s rights and protections in Iraq.