UN mission urges Iraq to endorse anti-domestic violence law

The UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) on Thursday urged the Iraqi parliament to pass the anti-domestic violence law amid the alarming rise of domestic violence cases in the country.

Highlighting a need to speed up the endorsement of the law especially with the growing domestic violence resulting from the movement restrictions imposed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, a UNAMI statement cited UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as saying in an earlier statement that all governments should "put women's safety first as they respond to the pandemic."

"We ask the authorities in Iraq to prioritize the protection of women and children as part of their COVID-19 response," Guterres said.

Last year, Iraqi President Barham Salih proposed a draft of domestic violence to the Iraqi parliament for discussion and approval, but it was delayed for political differences.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)