TAMANI AL-SARWI

Baghdad — Discussion of women's safety in Iraq is no longer limited to crime rates or security stability, but has come to be linked to a range of factors — beginning with a woman's ability to move about freely, and not ending with her ability to obtain justice if she is subjected to violence or harassment. Between those who believe recent years have brought notable progress in protecting women, and those who insist there is still a long way to go, opinions diverge on a question that keeps recurring: has Iraq become a safe country for women?

This report gathers women's perspectives from different angles, aiming to paint a picture closer to reality, away from generalization, in an attempt to understand the challenges and opportunities facing Iraqi women today.

Greater Awareness... and Women More Willing to Break the Silence

Dr. Israa Al-Dawoodi believes Iraqi women have made clear progress in recent years in their ability to defend themselves and demand their rights, affirming that improved security has gone hand in hand with rising social awareness.

She says women no longer hesitate to speak about the abuses they face as they once did, but have become bolder in filing complaints and demanding accountability for perpetrators — reflecting, in her words, a development in legal and social awareness.

She explains that harassment is not a purely Iraqi phenomenon, but exists across the world; what distinguishes the current period, however, is the existence of legal channels women can turn to, alongside the speed with which security agencies respond to reports and pursue suspects under the law.

She also notes that social media has helped expose many cases that once remained hidden, as some incidents have turned into matters of public opinion that pushed relevant authorities to act more quickly.

She affirms that enforcing the law strengthens women's sense of safety, calling on all women not to stay silent in the face of any violation, since reporting a crime protects not only the victim but also prevents its recurrence and protects society as a whole.

Improved Security... But Violence Begins at Home

By contrast, Dr. Ghofran Al-Dawoodi affirms that the sense of safety differs from one woman to another, tied to the environment she lives in and the support she receives from her family.

She recalled years when women feared going out into the street due to deteriorating security, to the point that she was forced at one stage to wear the hijab out of concern for her safety, at a time when the country witnessed crimes targeting women.

Through her work, she reveals that she regularly meets women who are beaten and abused by husbands or family members, with some arriving at health institutions after suffering miscarriages as a result of violence.

She notes that many women refuse to file legal complaints despite being abused, because they lack a safe place to turn to or are economically dependent on their husbands, forcing them to return to the very environment where they suffered the violence.

She stresses that harassment still exists, affirming that breaking the silence and taking legal action represent the first step toward curbing this phenomenon.

The Law Alone Is Not Enough

Dr. Lubna Zari, meanwhile, believes that protecting women is not achieved through legislation alone, but also requires a supportive social environment and a culture that respects women's rights, explaining that the current legal framework still needs review and development, considering that legal loopholes directly affect the level of protection women receive.

She notes that societal attitudes vary from one environment to another — some believe in equality and respect women, while some mindsets still view them with condescension, affecting how they are treated within the family, the workplace, and society. She affirms that harassment is not limited to physical assault, but also includes verbal and psychological harassment, which a woman may face regardless of her age or appearance.

She believes family support is a decisive factor in women obtaining their rights, since legal proceedings can take a long time, pushing many women to abandon pursuing their abusers — stressing that the absence of this support often leads to victims losing their rights and their suffering continuing.

"Iraq Cannot Be Described as Fully Safe for Women"

Activist Nasreen, for her part, believes Iraq cannot be considered a fully safe environment for women, noting that security stability alone does not mean real safety has been achieved for women.

She says the level of freedom varies from city to city — while women in some cities enjoy a greater margin of movement, many women in other cities still face social restrictions limiting their independence.

She affirms that the country needs stronger legislation to protect women, considering that Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959 provided greater legal guarantees for women compared to some later legislation.

She also criticizes the Jaafari code, considering that it has affected a number of rights related to alimony, custody, and certain financial rights, as well as its stance on child marriage.

She stresses her rejection of child marriage, affirming that a child does not possess sufficient maturity to make such a fateful decision, and that any legislation must place the protection of childhood at the top of its priorities.

These testimonies reveal that the reality of women in Iraq is too complex to be reduced to a single answer. There are clear indicators of improved security conditions and rising awareness among women of their rights, set against continuing real challenges — chief among them domestic violence, harassment, and weak legal and social protection in some cases.

Between these two realities, achieving genuine safety for women remains a shared responsibility — one that begins with developing legislation and enforcing it effectively, and does not end with changing societal culture, providing shelters, and strengthening psychological and legal support for women, ensuring they can live safely and with dignity, and making protection a guaranteed right for every woman, not a privilege that varies by location or circumstance.