08/09/2026
IHCHR Discusses Resubmitting Draft Domestic Violence Protection Law to Competent Authorities for Enactment
The IHCHR Advisor, Saad Al-Abdali, stressed the importance of legislating and enacting a law to address domestic violence and protect the rights of all segments of society. He made the remarks during a consultative meeting held by the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights in cooperation with the Presidency of the Republic and Asuda Organization, to discuss the legal and practical steps required to resubmit the Draft Law on the Protection from Domestic Violence to the competent authorities for enactment.
The meeting was attended by the Advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr. Ameer Al-Kinani; the Prime Minister’s Advisor for Women’s Affairs, Ala Talabani; the Director General of Administrative Affairs at the Office of the President of the Republic and the Women’s Affairs Department, Ms. Hana Emmanuel; as well as a number of Members of Parliament, representatives of ministries, and civil society organizations.
Al-Abdali emphasized the need to enact a law that protects all members of the family from violence, particularly women and children, and strengthens the rights of these groups. He noted that the Commission had identified cases of violence against women within the family environment, workplaces, and public places, which had been documented in its reports and recommendations and referred to the competent authorities to take the necessary measures.
He stressed that this requires legislative authorities and civil society organizations to join forces to enact a deterrent law that holds perpetrators of violence accountable, provides protection for families, and contributes to building an integrated and cohesive society.
For his part, the Advisor to the President of the Republic, Dr. Amir Al-Kinani, affirmed the Presidency of the Republic’s commitment to preparing draft laws that serve the interests of citizens, including the Domestic Violence Law. He explained that the draft currently under consideration addresses all relevant aspects and has been shared with judicial authorities and professors specializing in psychology and sociology. He noted that the draft includes definitions of a number of terms, including “violence” and “family,” and stressed the importance of coordinating efforts and launching an advocacy campaign in support of the draft law in a manner that contributes to its enactment.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor for Women’s Affairs, Ala Talabani, stated that the Prime Minister is keen to follow up on human rights, particularly women’s rights and efforts to reduce violations and forms of violence against women. She stressed that the Anti-Domestic Violence Law is important and that safe shelters must be provided for women.
Meanwhile, Ms. Hana Emmanuel, Director General of Administrative Affairs at the Office of the President of the Republic and the Women’s Affairs Department, outlined a number of steps for resubmitting the draft law, including establishing a clear legislative pathway free from delays or multiple procedures, strengthening protection and response mechanisms through enhancing the work of the police and competent authorities, and providing safe and confidential reporting mechanisms, as many cases of violence do not reach official institutions. She also highlighted the importance of implementing preventive awareness-raising programs alongside the enactment of the Domestic Violence Protection Law.
The consultative meeting was coordinated among several IHCHR departments, including the Relations and Media Department, the Women’s Affairs Department, and the Administrative and Financial Department at the National Office, in coordination with Asuda Organization, a civil society organization. The meeting also included a welcoming address by Ms. Khanim Latif, Head of Asuda Organization, who highlighted the importance of discussing the legal and practical procedures required to resubmit the Draft Law on the Protection from Domestic Violence to the competent authorities for enactment, with a view to providing protection for Iraqi families, particularly women and children.
At the conclusion of the meeting, participants put forward a number of proposals and recommendations aimed at resubmitting the Draft Law on the Protection from Domestic Violence, following completion of the necessary legal and practical procedures, to the competent authorities for enactment.
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