Domestic violence against

children in Iraq
Team B
How to Better Protect Iraqi Children from all types of abuse

 It is not something strange that every now and then the social media
features a video of an Iraqi child being abused by a family member.
 In Iraq, many children are victims of psychological and
physical violence. Discipline is very important in Iraqi society and
continues to dominate the child- parent relationship. Likewise, the
authorities as well as educators do not hesitate to use violence to
enforce order.
 These acts of violence have tragic consequences for the children as
they tend to reproduce these abusive acts themselves.
 Iraq is a country with large numbers of orphans. One in every six
Iraqi citizens is an orphan. The causes are diverse such as wars and
poverty.
 The Iraqi law does not provide for adoption. Guardianship of the
extended family, or close friends is the only possibility. Strangers
cannot therefore acquire rights to legal guardianship of Iraqi
children.
 In spite of the fact that education is free and compulsory, not all
children benefit from it. Classes are often crowded and lack proper
facilities.
 Despite the laws against child labour, large numbers of children are
compelled to earn money in order to fulfil their basic needs. These
children spend their days begging on the streets or selling cigarettes
to drivers. Such activity is seen as being detrimental to their health
and their education.
 Corporal punishment is still practiced against children at home and at
schools.
 Child Trafficking

 The trade of children is a well-known phenomenon in Iraq and

specially in the region of Kurdistan. It is a problem which affects
particularly young girls, who are sold to become servants or to feed
prostitution networks.
 In Iraq, prostitution is not illegal.
Minors in Prison
 minors are still in prison establishments for adults.
- Not all cases of child abuse are being reported to the community
police. Many goes unnoticed.
- The emergency line for reporting incidents of child abuse in the
Ministries of Labor and Interior is insufficient to reduce the
phenomenon of child abuse.
Family violence against children
There are customs and traditions that undermine human dignity and fuel
the rise in domestic violence in the country. Along with this, there are other
factors such as husbands' inability to keep up with life's demands,
unplanned pregnancies, a lack of proper concepts of upbringing and
respect within the family and drug abuse.
- Iraqi community and tradition give parents and other adult members
the authority to discipline children. Violence against children is
accepted practice being a subordinate with no rights and dignity.
What is needed:
 Reform laws and legislations to ban Corporal punishment against
children at home, in the streets and at school
 Enforce laws to force people who intend to start a family to pass
psychological and mental tests.
 Enforce newly engaged people to take courses on their rights,
duties and the rights of children.
 Encourage people from the family and whoever is in contact with
children to be vigilant on any red flags of abuse.