MOSUL TIME RADIO
The European Parliament called on the Iraqi Parliament to completely and immediately reject the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law .
Members of the European Parliament warned, according to an official statement, of the consequences of this latest proposal, which violates Iraq’s international obligations regarding the basic rights of women .
Members commended the women, including Iraqi MPs who condemned the proposal, as well as NGOs, activists and members of civil society, who are fighting to preserve one of the most progressive laws in the region .
They argued that the Penal Code does not legally protect women and children who are victims of domestic violence in Iraq, and therefore the proposed amendments to the Personal Status Law, if enacted, would lead to a “more radical” application of the law .
The European Parliament, in a resolution adopted last Thursday , urged Iraq to adopt a national action plan to eliminate child marriage, criminalize marital rape, combat domestic violence, and promote the rights of women and girls, in line with the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women .
The European Parliament called on the EU delegation in Iraq to “make development grants conditional on judicial training on sexual violence and the establishment of shelters for women, and to call on member states to increase their support to women’s and children’s rights defenders in the country.”
