Members of Coalition 188: The proposed amendments would endanger women’s rights
Members of Coalition 188, a group of NGOs, politicians and activists opposed to amendments in the Iraqi Personal Status Law No. 188, say the amendments would “endanger women’s rights and democracy” if passed.
NUR AL-MARSOUMI
Iraq- Some Shiite parties submitted a bill to amend the Iraqi Personal Status Law No.188 of 1959 to the Iraqi Parliament. If passed, the amendments would give custody of the child to the father after a divorce; reduce the minimum age for marriage. On August 4, the Iraqi Parliament held its first session to discuss the proposed amendments. The session scheduled for September 3 was postponed. The last session to discuss the proposed amendments ended without any decision.
Coalition 188, a group consisting of several NGOs, politicians, activists and journalists, struggles against the proposed amendments in the Iraqi Personal status Law No.188 of 1959. The members of the coalition have been subjected to smear campaigns and threats for holding a number of peaceful demonstrations in Baghdad and other cities to protest the bill to amend the Personal Status Law. Some members of the Iraqi House of Representatives and political parties also oppose the proposed amendments.
The Aison Organization for Human Rights and Sustainable Development is one of the NGOs, members of the coalition.
“As the coalition, we have visited members of the parliament and political figures to have their support and struggle together against the proposed amendments,” said Ansam Salman, the head of the Aison Organization for Human Rights and Sustainable Development. “Is not the current law a law that is consistent with the provisions of international conventions that Iraq ratified years ago? Why do they want to amend the law so quickly? The intentions behind the proposed amendments raises questions and doubts.”
Ansam Salman told NuJINHA that they would continue their visits and to hold demonstrations, sit-in protests and press conferences against the proposed amendments. “We oppose the proposed amendments and we are determined to put pressure on the parliament to reject the proposed amendments.”
‘The proposed amendments would endanger women’s rights’
“The aim of the proposed amendments is to break the will of women,” said Marwa Abdul Redha, a member of the coalition. “If passed, the proposed amendments would endanger women’s rights and democracy in the country.”