News Center— Iraq continues to face escalating challenges in the absence of effective solutions to combat gender-based violence, as incidents reveal a widening gap between declared policies and field reality, exacerbating the suffering of women and girls and weakening community protection systems.

Amnesty International sent an urgent letter yesterday, Monday, August 17, to the Iraqi Prime Minister calling for decisive steps to end impunity and guarantee the protection of women's and girls' rights. In its open letter, the organization affirmed that Iraq continues to face ongoing human rights violations that require serious political will to bring about genuine change and safeguard citizens' fundamental freedoms.

The organization noted that the Iraqi Prime Minister, who assumed office approximately three months ago, has not achieved tangible progress in the human rights file despite commitments outlined in his government program. It considered that measures related to women's empowerment and support for independent civil society organizations remain limited and disproportionate to the scale of challenges facing Iraqi society.

The letter addressed the phenomenon of violence against women, describing it as widespread under the conservative social, tribal, and religious constraints governing society. It emphasized that the absence of official statistics does not negate the reality of femicides committed under the pretext of honor, necessitating decisive legal interventions to protect victims.

The organization criticized current laws that undermine the rights of survivors of violence, noting that women in Iraq lack effective protection from threats of murder. It called on legislative and executive authorities to prioritize the adoption of a comprehensive law combating gender-based violence and providing safe shelters for those under threat.

Amnesty also condemned the ongoing restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, noting that recent years have witnessed systematic targeting of activists, researchers, and journalists. Rights sources indicated that abductions have even extended to foreign nationals, reflecting a decline in the security and rights environment for workers, particularly in public affairs.

The organization called on the Iraqi government to impose an official and immediate moratorium on all death sentences, and to ensure effective justice pathways for survivors of torture. It also documented the unlawful use of force by security forces against peaceful protesters, particularly in the city of Al-Kut in eastern Iraq.

Reports indicate that protests that erupted since June of last year over repeated electricity cuts were met with campaigns of arbitrary detention aimed at intimidating citizens demanding their service and political rights.

Razaw Salihi, a researcher on Iraqi affairs at the organization, called for immediate and impartial investigations into all assaults against activists to ensure they are not repeated, emphasizing the importance of lifting restrictions on media to enable it to perform its oversight role without fear of prosecution or security pressure.

On the death penalty file, Amnesty International called on the Prime Minister to declare an official and immediate moratorium on the execution of these sentences, which are issued by the dozens annually. It noted that many of these sentences are related to terrorism and drug trafficking cases but often lack fair and transparent trial standards.

The organization expressed grave concern over reports of confessions extracted from defendants under physical and psychological torture in Iraqi prisons. It affirmed that the ratification of death sentences by the presidency must cease until comprehensive review of all cases is ensured and legal violations are ruled out.

Despite noting a decline in execution rates during 2025 according to rights data, the organization warned that thousands of convicts remain under the threat of execution at any moment. The organization concluded its call by emphasizing the need to definitively end torture practices, provide fair compensation to survivors, and ensure accountability for those responsible for these violations.