Head of Independent Commission for Human Rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq Mona Yaku: The amendment to the Iraqi Personal Status Law strips women of established rights

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq — The recent proposal to amend Iraq’s Personal Status Law has ignited widespread controversy, with critics warning of its potential negative impact on women’s rights and the broader society, including Iraq’s Christian community.

Mona Yaku, Head of the Independent Commission for Human Rights in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and an expert in international law, criticized the proposed amendment, arguing that it undermines the legal rights currently guaranteed to women.

“This amendment offers no benefits; instead, it strips women of their established rights,” Yaku stated, emphasizing that the proposed changes bear no relevance to the Christian community in Iraq.

Yaku expressed significant concern about the broader implications of the amendment, noting that Iraq has long been a signatory to international agreements such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

She warned that if the Iraqi House of Representatives insists on passing the amendment, it would place the country in a “shameful position” on the global stage, undermining its credibility as a nation committed to honoring its international obligations.

Describing the amendment as a regression for women’s rights and dignity, Yaku highlighted the importance of preserving the protections enshrined in Iraq’s current Personal Status Law.

Additionally, Yaku commended the Federal Supreme Court’s recent decision underscoring the need for revisions to Article 41 of the Constitution, which pertains to personal status matters.

The proposed amendment has drawn significant backlash from human rights advocates, who view it as a major setback in Iraq’s progress toward gender equality and the protection of minority rights.