Violence Against WomenViolence Against Womenin Kurdistanin Kurdistan

Prepared by Prepared by

Bakhtyar A. Salih Bakhtyar A. Salih

Civil Development OrganizationCivil Development Organization

20112011

Examples of VAW in KurdistanExamples of VAW in Kurdistan► Domestic violence (can be physical and Domestic violence (can be physical and

psychological, and can be between spouses, or also psychological, and can be between spouses, or also inflicted upon children)inflicted upon children)

► Female genital mutilation FGMFemale genital mutilation FGM► Violence in the place of working Violence in the place of working ► Honor killingsHonor killings► Forced marriagesForced marriages► Early marriagesEarly marriages► Infanticide Infanticide ► trafficking, rape, physical assaulttrafficking, rape, physical assault► Restrictions on movementRestrictions on movement► Verbal or physical abuseVerbal or physical abuse► Exploitation, threatsExploitation, threats

► Suicide (self emulation)Suicide (self emulation)

Inputs of main bodies that Inputs of main bodies that contribute in combating VAWcontribute in combating VAW

1.1. Kurdistan Parliament. Kurdistan Parliament.

2.2. Kurdistan Regional Government.Kurdistan Regional Government.

3.3. Civil Society OrganizationsCivil Society Organizations

Kurdistan Parliament Kurdistan Parliament

► The law of "prohibiting miss using of The law of "prohibiting miss using of communications means in Kurdistan region”. communications means in Kurdistan region”. Issued on May 19,2008 and approved by Issued on May 19,2008 and approved by regional presidency on May 20,2008.regional presidency on May 20,2008.

Aim : Decreasing one of the reasons which in some Aim : Decreasing one of the reasons which in some cases lead to honor killing by identifying cases lead to honor killing by identifying punishment for whom misuse it. punishment for whom misuse it.

““ with appear of mobile and internet many women killed because either taped 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 by mobile when they do sex, or their conversation recorded, or their chat in internet recorded and then distributed among community. The law put 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 punishment for who will do that and in a case it caused killing the punishment will be more.will be more.

For more information you can return to the text of the lawFor more information you can return to the text of the law

Inputs Inputs Kurdistan Parliament Kurdistan Parliament

3.3. Combating Domestic Violence Law:Combating Domestic Violence Law:

► On 2011 a specific law for combating domestic On 2011 a specific law for combating domestic violence issued by the parliament after long violence issued by the parliament after long discussion and debates in the community. discussion and debates in the community.

Inputs Inputs Kurdistan Regional GovernmentKurdistan Regional Government

1. 1. Established Directorates of following up violence Established Directorates of following up violence against Women in 2007: against Women in 2007:

There is a Directorate in each province. They are There is a Directorate in each province. They are belonging to the ministry of Interior. Their main aims belonging to the ministry of Interior. Their main aims are:are:

► Providing statistical analysis on VAW. Providing statistical analysis on VAW. ► Cases follow up. the cases that related to VAW during Cases follow up. the cases that related to VAW during

the investigation or trail.the investigation or trail.

► Follow up those that accused of Honor killing or other Follow up those that accused of Honor killing or other

types of VAW and run away.types of VAW and run away. First directorate established in Suly on 2007 and in 2008 the First directorate established in Suly on 2007 and in 2008 the

other directorate established in Erbil and Dahoukother directorate established in Erbil and Dahouk . .

Inputs Inputs Kurdistan Regional GovernmentKurdistan Regional Government

2. 2. Police Investigation Committee for follow up VAW Police Investigation Committee for follow up VAW in the police stations:in the police stations:

Those committees exists in the police stations, the Those committees exists in the police stations, the main aim of those committees is give more main aim of those committees is give more attention for those cases that related with VAW attention for those cases that related with VAW especially honor killing.especially honor killing.

3. 3. Prosecutor:Prosecutor:

activate the role of Prosecutors, they has the activate the role of Prosecutors, they has the

authority to complain on behalf the victims.authority to complain on behalf the victims.

Inputs Inputs Civil Society Civil Society OrganizationsOrganizations

CSO involved with combating VAW in the following CSO involved with combating VAW in the following sides:sides:

The 3 Ps :The 3 Ps :

1.1. Prevention.Prevention.

(awareness raising, advocacy, researches, data (awareness raising, advocacy, researches, data collection)collection)

2. Protection.2. Protection.

(Shelters, Legal, Social and Health services)(Shelters, Legal, Social and Health services)

3. Prosecution. 3. Prosecution.

(Presetting a draft of law to parliament.(Presetting a draft of law to parliament.

AchievementsAchievements

1.1. Kurdish authority recognized this phenomena and Kurdish authority recognized this phenomena and work for combating it. work for combating it.

2.2. General attorney has the right to take legal action General attorney has the right to take legal action

against whom involved with honor killing.against whom involved with honor killing. 3.3. Follow up whom accused by honor killing. For Follow up whom accused by honor killing. For

example in Suly province. %92 of whom accused example in Suly province. %92 of whom accused during 2008 arrested and their cases submitted to during 2008 arrested and their cases submitted to the court.the court.

Some Some statistics aboutstatistics about VAW in Kurdistan VAW in Kurdistan

TypeType2009200920102010Honor Honor killingkilling

55 55

self self immolationimmolation

57577474

RapeRape6688BitingBiting 381381460460ThreatThreat 417417485485Take Take

children by children by force by the force by the

husband husband after after

divorcedivorce

221313

► Total case recorded on 2009: 1183 Total case recorded on 2009: 1183 ► Total cases recorded on 2010: 1617Total cases recorded on 2010: 1617

The statistics come from the government and they are not the real number of 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 violence because many cases not reported and not went to the police because

of the tradition that make the voice of survivors inside home of the tradition that make the voice of survivors inside home

Quick AnalyzingQuick AnalyzingWhy VAW is increasing with all the efforts that Why VAW is increasing with all the efforts that

mentionedmentioned?? 1.1. lack of clear vision about the three W (Who is doing lack of clear vision about the three W (Who is doing

what and where)what and where) The different foundations and institutions that work The different foundations and institutions that work

for decreasing VAW haven't any clear strategy, even for decreasing VAW haven't any clear strategy, even in some cases those foundations are in conflict with in some cases those foundations are in conflict with each others. each others.

22 . .Absence of especial budget for combating VAWAbsence of especial budget for combating VAW.. The law which a cording it the budget of 2010 will The law which a cording it the budget of 2010 will

distribute, didn’t contain any item for combating distribute, didn’t contain any item for combating VAW. The budget of judicial authorities is a lowest VAW. The budget of judicial authorities is a lowest

budget among the authoritiesbudget among the authorities..

3.3. Till now the law system couldnTill now the law system couldn’’t benefit from the t benefit from the international conventions and its obligation on the state international conventions and its obligation on the state such as CEDAW which Iraq ratify it. such as CEDAW which Iraq ratify it.

4.4. Most of the procedures that implement for combating VAW Most of the procedures that implement for combating VAW focus on the city centers while the high rate of VAW focus on the city centers while the high rate of VAW happening in the country side.happening in the country side.

5.5. Till now the focus is on domestic violence. The violence Till now the focus is on domestic violence. The violence which take place in the Gov directorates neglected.which take place in the Gov directorates neglected.

6. Media effected on VAW on both side, positive and negative. 6. Media effected on VAW on both side, positive and negative. Positive by publishing report about it and trying to build a Positive by publishing report about it and trying to build a public opinion against it and negative by publishing untrue public opinion against it and negative by publishing untrue reports about the cases or the number of honor killing.reports about the cases or the number of honor killing.

Quick AnalyzingQuick Analyzing

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