Sittings · Document

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2024/2858(RSP)) 2024-10-07

On the situation of women’s rights in Iraq and the recent proposal to amend the Personal Status Law

on behalf of the ESN Group · Rapporteur: Tomasz Froelich

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

This resolution addresses women's rights in Iraq and a proposal to amend the Personal Status Law. It expresses concern about deteriorating conditions, including child marriage and domestic violence, and calls for stricter conditions on EU development aid to Iraq.

Key points

  1. Notes that women's situation in Iraq has deteriorated since 2003, with practices like child marriage, forced marriage, and honour killings persisting.
  2. Highlights that over 1 in 4 girls (28%) married before age 18 and that 53,889 domestic violence incidents were recorded in the past three years.
  3. States that Christians in Iraq, many women, have faced persecution and displacement, with population dropping from 1.5 million to 150,000 since 2003.
  4. Warns that amending the Personal Status Law to apply Sharia jurisprudence would legitimise child marriages and increase temporary marriages.
  5. Emphasises that unequal treatment of women is upheld by cultural norms, customs, tribal traditions, and religious practices, reflected in civil and penal law.
  6. Expresses deep concern about consequences of mass migration from MENA countries for women's security across Europe.
  7. Calls for development aid to Iraq to be linked to cooperation in repatriating Iraqis illegally staying in the EU, and for aid to stop if Iraq does not cooperate.
  8. Notes the European Court of Justice ruling in case C-646/21 that identifying with gender equality can constitute a reason for persecution, and worries this encourages migration.

Who is affected

  • Women and girls in Iraq, particularly regarding marriage and personal status laws.
  • Christians in Iraq, especially women, facing persecution and displacement.
  • Iraqi nationals illegally staying in the EU, affected by repatriation conditionality.

Figures and deadlines

  • 53,889 domestic violence incidents recorded over past three years.
  • 28% of girls married before age 18.
  • Christian population reduced from 1.5 million in 2003 to 150,000 today.

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