Violence Against Women in Kurdistan Violence Against Women in Kurdistan Prepared by Bakhtyar A. Salih Civil Development Organization 2011

Examples of VAW in Kurdistan ► Domestic violence (can be physical and psychological, and can be between spouses, or also inflicted upon children) ► Female genital mutilation FGM ► Violence in the place of working ► Honor killings ► Forced marriages ► Early marriages ► Infanticide ► trafficking, rape, physical assault ► Restrictions on movement ► Verbal or physical abuse ► Exploitation, threats ► Suicide (self emulation)

Inputs of main bodies that contribute in combating VAW 1. Kurdistan Parliament. 2. Kurdistan Regional Government. 3. Civil Society Organizations

Kurdistan Parliament ► The law of "prohibiting miss using of communications means in Kurdistan region”. Issued on May 19,2008 and approved by regional presidency on May 20,2008. Aim : Decreasing one of the reasons which in some cases lead to honor killing by identifying punishment for whom misuse it. “ with appear of mobile and internet many women killed because either taped by mobile when they do sex, or their conversation recorded, or their chat in internet recorded and then distributed among community. The law put punishment for who will do that and in a case it caused killing the punishment will be more. For more information you can return to the text of the law

Inputs Kurdistan Parliament 3. Combating Domestic Violence Law: ► On 2011 a specific law for combating domestic violence issued by the parliament after long discussion and debates in the community.

Inputs Kurdistan Regional Government 1. Established Directorates of following up violence against Women in 2007: There is a Directorate in each province. They are belonging to the ministry of Interior. Their main aims are: There is a Directorate in each province. They are belonging to the ministry of Interior. Their main aims are: ► Providing statistical analysis on VAW. ► Cases follow up. the cases that related to VAW during the investigation or trail. ► Follow up those that accused of Honor killing or other types of VAW and run away. First directorate established in Suly on 2007 and in 2008 the other directorate established in Erbil and Dahouk. First directorate established in Suly on 2007 and in 2008 the other directorate established in Erbil and Dahouk.

Inputs Kurdistan Regional Government 2. Police Investigation Committee for follow up VAW in the police stations: Those committees exists in the police stations, the main aim of those committees is give more attention for those cases that related with VAW especially honor killing. Those committees exists in the police stations, the main aim of those committees is give more attention for those cases that related with VAW especially honor killing. 3. Prosecutor: activate the role of Prosecutors, they has the authority to complain on behalf the victims. activate the role of Prosecutors, they has the authority to complain on behalf the victims.

Inputs Civil Society Organizations CSO involved with combating VAW in the following sides: CSO involved with combating VAW in the following sides: The 3 Ps : 1. Prevention. (awareness raising, advocacy, researches, data collection) 2. Protection. (Shelters, Legal, Social and Health services) 3. Prosecution. (Presetting a draft of law to parliament.

Achievements 1. Kurdish authority recognized this phenomena and work for combating it. 2. General attorney has the right to take legal action against whom involved with honor killing. 3. Follow up whom accused by honor killing. For example in Suly province. %92 of whom accused during 2008 arrested and their cases submitted to the court.

Some statistics about VAW in Kurdistan Type 55 Honor killing 7457 self immolation 86Rape Biting Threat 132 Take children by force by the husband after divorce

► Total case recorded on 2009: 1183 ► Total cases recorded on 2010: 1617 The statistics come from the government and they are not the real number of violence because many cases not reported and not went to the police because of the tradition that make the voice of survivors inside home

Quick Analyzing Why VAW is increasing with all the efforts that mentioned? 1.lack of clear vision about the three W (Who is doing what and where) The different foundations and institutions that work for decreasing VAW haven't any clear strategy, even in some cases those foundations are in conflict with each others. The different foundations and institutions that work for decreasing VAW haven't any clear strategy, even in some cases those foundations are in conflict with each others. 2. Absence of especial budget for combating VAW. The law which a cording it the budget of 2010 will distribute, didn’t contain any item for combating VAW. The budget of judicial authorities is a lowest budget among the authorities. The law which a cording it the budget of 2010 will distribute, didn’t contain any item for combating VAW. The budget of judicial authorities is a lowest budget among the authorities.

3. Till now the law system couldn ’ t benefit from the international conventions and its obligation on the state such as CEDAW which Iraq ratify it. 4. Most of the procedures that implement for combating VAW focus on the city centers while the high rate of VAW happening in the country side. 5. Till now the focus is on domestic violence. The violence which take place in the Gov directorates neglected. 6. Media effected on VAW on both side, positive and negative. Positive by publishing report about it and trying to build a public opinion against it and negative by publishing untrue reports about the cases or the number of honor killing. Quick Analyzing

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