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

on behalf of the S&D Group · Rapporteur: Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Evin Incir, Nicola Zingaretti

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

This resolution expresses concern about proposed amendments to Iraq's Personal Status Law 188 of 1959, which would reduce women's and children's rights in marriage, divorce, and custody. It urges Iraqi authorities to withdraw the amendments and undertake reforms including banning child marriage, criminalizing marital rape, and ensuring equality.¶¶¶

Key points

Expresses concern about proposed amendments to Iraq's Personal Status Law 188 of 1959, which would reduce rights in marriage, divorce, and child custody.¶¶
Believes the amended law would undermine women's and children's rights, violating UN conventions including ICCPR, ICESCR, CEDAW, and CRC.¶
Recalls that CEDAW states parties should adopt family laws ensuring equality regardless of religious or ethnic identity, and allow individual choice among religious, ethnic, or civil law.¶
Reiterates CEDAW's concerns that identity-based personal status laws perpetuate discrimination against women and that multiple legal systems are discriminatory.¶
Calls on Iraqi leaders and institutions to consider negative consequences and place women's and children's interests at the centre of deliberations.¶
Urges Iraqi authorities to withdraw the proposed amendments and undertake reforms including a national action plan to eliminate child marriage.¶¶
Urges setting minimum age of marriage at 18 with no exceptions and criminalizing marital rape in all circumstances.¶¶
Urges a comprehensive domestic violence law, acceding to the CEDAW Optional Protocol, and ensuring annulment for child or forced marriages without undue burden.¶¶
Urges repealing Penal Code articles allowing husbands to 'punish' wives and providing reduced sentences for killing or assaulting wives in adultery.¶

Who is affected

Iraqi women and children, whose rights would be affected by the proposed amendments.¶
Iraqi political and religious leaders, parliament, judicial authorities, and social institutions, called upon to act.¶
Iraqi authorities, urged to withdraw amendments and implement reforms.¶

Figures and deadlines

Minimum age of marriage at 18 with no exceptions.¶

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