What changed
The new version adds passages on the effects of the draft amendments: it says they increase the vulnerability of female children and the risk of trafficking and exploitation. #1 It adds praise for the women, including Iraqi Parliament members, and for NGOs, activists and civil society who have opposed the reform. #2 It adds a paragraph on the current rule for children of a parent who converted to Islam and states concerns that the amendments would apply Sharia more radically, undermine the Iraqi State and affect minorities, including Christian communities. #3
3 changes of substance. Each change below carries a one-line ✦ note from the same model. Written from the two texts only — read the highlighted passages before relying on it.
The changes to the text itself, in document order. Cover page, citations (“having regard to …”), standard resolution paragraphs and punctuation-only edits are left out — they are in “Show every difference”.
Change #1 Substance
Adds that the draft amendments increase the vulnerability of female children, especially orphans and those from low-income families, and raise the risk of human trafficking and exploitation by guardians or relatives.
A. whereas Iraq’s Parliament is drafting highly restrictive amendments to Law 188/1959 (the Personal Status Law), affecting women’s rights; whereas as a result, family matters, including marriage, divorce and child custody, would effectively fall under the remit of religious rather than civil courts, entailing disturbing discrepancies along religious lines, according to UN experts; whereas for some, the minimum legal marriageable age would be 9 for girls and 15 for boys, and there are fears of increased violence against women in the future; whereas 22 % of unregistered marriages involve girls under 14; whereas the draft amendments increase the vulnerability of female children, especially orphans and children from low-income families, and exacerbate the risk of them falling victim to human trafficking and exploitation by guardians and/or relatives; whereas the Supreme Court endorsed the constitutionality of the most problematic amendments before a third reading, which was postponed on 2 October 2024; whereas the women’s rights situation in Iraq already drew fierce criticism;
Change #2 Substance
Adds a new paragraph praising the women, including members of the Iraqi Parliament, and the NGOs, activists and civil society who have opposed the reform since 1959.
2. Praises the women, including members of the Iraqi Parliament, who have condemned the reform, and the NGOs, activists and members of civil society who have fought since 1959 to preserve one of the most progressive laws in the region;
Change #3 Substance
Adds a new paragraph recalling that the current law requires children with at least one parent who converted to Islam to become Muslims, and expressing concern that the amendments would apply Sharia more radically, undermine the Iraqi State and affect minorities, including Christian communities.
4. Recalls that the current Personal Status Law requires children with at least one parent who has converted to Islam to become Muslims themselves; deplores the fact that the proposed amendments to the law, if enacted, would lead to an even more radical application of Sharia; states that these new provisions would also undermine the Iraqi State and affect the country’s minorities; expresses its deep concern about the consequences of these amendments for Iraq’s Christian communities;