In a world that claims to champion human rights and equality, Iraq’s recent move to amend its personal status law is a chilling reminder that progress is neither guaranteed nor universal. The proposed amendment, which would lower the legal age of consent for marriage to just 9 years old, is not just a legal travesty, it is a moral and social crisis. It signifies a regression into a darker era, where the rights of women and children are trampled upon in the name of tradition, religion and political gain.
The statistics alone are staggering. According to UNICEF, 28% of women in Iraq were already married before the age of 18, under existing laws that allow underage marriages with the approval of religious leaders and fathers. This loophole in the legal system has been a gateway to abuse, enabling older men to marry young girls with little to no accountability. The proposed amendment further legitimizes this practice, essentially sanctioning pedophilia under the guise of cultural norms.
This is not just an isolated issue for Iraq, it reflects a global trend where the bodies of women and children are increasingly treated as battlegrounds for control and domination. Across the world, there are policies, practices and movements that seek to curtail women’s autonomy over their own lives, health and futures. Whether it is restrictive abortion laws, systemic gender-based violence, or the normalization of child marriage. The message is clear, this world is not made for women, but it survives because of them.
The proposed law represents more than a rollback of women’s rights, it is a wholesale assault on their humanity. Dominant Shia Muslim parties in Iraq’s Parliament, spearheading this amendment, are not merely advocating for child marriage. They are also pushing for changes that would strip women of their rights to divorce, child custody and inheritance. It is a Taliban-style regression that underscores the fragility of women’s progress in patriarchal societies.
What makes this even more alarming is the global silence. Where is the outrage? The international condemnation? The collective action? It seems the world is turning a blind eye, unwilling to challenge the cultural and religious justifications used to defend such egregious violations of human rights. By remaining silent, we become complicit in the perpetuation of these injustices.
The bodies of women and children are not safe in this world. Every time we think progress has been made, another law or policy emerges to remind us that our autonomy is constantly under threat. The proposed amendment in Iraq is not just a global issue, it is a call to action for anyone who believes in equality, justice and the right to live without fear of exploitation and control.
The question we must ask ourselves is this: When will we, as a global society, truly prioritize the safety and dignity of women and children? When will we confront the systems, traditions and ideologies that perpetuate these abuses? Change cannot come from apathy or ignorance, it must be driven by the collective will to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
It is time to wake up to the grim reality that progress is not inevitable. If we do not fight for it, we risk losing it altogether. The Iraqi Parliament’s proposal must be met with fierce resistance, both domestically and internationally. Because if we allow this to pass, we are not just failing the women and children of Iraq, we are failing humanity itself. The fight for justice and equality is far from over, and it is a battle we cannot afford to lose.
