A Childhood Stolen. Iraq's Proposed Marriage Law is a Global Human Rights Concern

By Aneeta Prem

“A law that allows nine-year-olds to marry is not a law—it is a betrayal of childhood. It is the legalisation of exploitation and the erosion of human dignity,” says, Aneeta Prem MBE JP the founder of Freedom Charity. “We cannot stand by and watch history move backwards. Every voice matters, and together, we can ensure this law does not pass.”

Iraq stands at a moral crossroads, with its parliament poised to vote on a proposed amendment to the Personal Status Law that would allow girls as young as nine to be married. This alarming development threatens to dismantle decades of progress in protecting women’s and children’s rights. If enacted, the amendment would legalise child abuse under the guise of religion, stripping away protections and opening the door to systemic exploitation.

This proposal is not just a domestic issue for Iraq—it is a global human rights emergency. The international community must act swiftly and decisively to prevent this from becoming a dangerous precedent for other nations.

A Law That Betrays Progress

The Personal Status Law, introduced in 1959, was a milestone in Iraq’s legal history. It established the minimum marriage age at 18 and guaranteed women equal rights in marriage, divorce, and inheritance, transcending sectarian divides. At its core, the law was a promise of equality and modernity for Iraqi society.

The proposed amendment seeks to lower the marriage age to nine and grant religious authorities control over family matters. This regressive shift would relegate millions of women and children to second-class citizenship, making Iraq one of the most permissive countries in the world regarding child marriage.

The Human Cost of Child Marriage

Child marriage is not just a violation of international law—it is a direct attack on the future of Iraq’s children. Girls forced into early marriages often experience severe physical, psychological, and emotional harm.

Physically, early pregnancies place young girls at high risk of maternal mortality and complications during childbirth. Psychologically, the trauma of early marriage often leads to anxiety, depression, and isolation. Many are denied access to education, trapping them in cycles of poverty and dependence.

Boys, too, are victims of this system. Forced into roles as providers and heads of households at a young age, they are robbed of the opportunity to develop emotionally and intellectually. Such a system perpetuates harmful gender norms and entrenches inequality for future generations.

As I have said: “Forced marriage in children is child abuse, serial rape, and we must protect all children. The idea that little girls may be forced into early marriage is beyond all our comprehension, and we can’t allow this to happen.”

A Broader Political Agenda

Experts warn that the proposed amendment is part of a wider strategy by certain Shia Islamist factions to consolidate power and regain ideological legitimacy. By embedding religious control into family law, these factions risk further fragmenting Iraq’s legal system along sectarian lines.

Dr Renad Mansour, a senior research fellow at Chatham House, describes the amendment as an effort to “regain some of the ideological legitimacy that has been waning over the last few years.” However, the cost of this political manoeuvre is borne by the most vulnerable members of society—women and children.

Global Implications and International Responsibility

Allowing this amendment to pass would set a dangerous precedent, signalling to the world that fundamental human rights are negotiable. Iraq is a signatory to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which mandates the protection of children from all forms of exploitation. This proposed law directly contravenes these international commitments.

The international community must act. Governments, NGOs, and activists must demand accountability from Iraq and press for the protection of universal human rights. Diplomatic efforts, public campaigns, and targeted interventions can help ensure this law does not pass unnoticed or unchallenged.

Voices of Resistance

Within Iraq, women’s rights activists are fighting courageously to oppose the amendment. Coalition 188, a network of feminist activists, has mobilised nationwide protests, warning that the proposal is a thinly veiled attempt to legalise child exploitation.

Athraa Al-Hassan, a leading voice in Iraq’s feminist movement, describes the amendment as “a violation of the constitution and a betrayal of Iraq’s civil society.” She adds: “Iraq is a civilised state. We aspire to progress, not regress.”

A Call to Action

The stakes could not be higher. This amendment would legitimise exploitation and roll back decades of progress in gender equality and child protection. As founder of Freedom Charity, I have seen the devastating consequences of forced marriage and exploitation. We must act now to ensure this law does not pass.

What can you do?

• Raise Awareness: Share this article and other resources to inform others about the issue.
• Support Advocacy Groups: Donate to organisations working to protect women and children in Iraq.
• Engage Politically: Write to your representatives, urging them to advocate for diplomatic intervention.

We cannot afford to be silent. The world must stand united against this dangerous regression. The future of millions of children depends on it.

References:

• Human Rights Watch
• Amnesty International
• UNICEF Report on Child Marriage

“A law that allows nine-year-olds to marry is not a law—it is a betrayal of childhood. It is the legalisation of exploitation and the erosion of human dignity,” says Aneeta Prem, founder of Freedom Charity. “We cannot stand by and watch history move backwards. Every voice matters, and together, we can ensure this law does not pass.”