Shahrazad

In April 2014 Iraqi Civil Society Organisations and the Iraqi Civil Society Solidarity Initiative (ICSSI), Iraqi Social Forum, Iraqi Women Journalist Forum and Al-Mesalla, launched the “Shahrazad” campaign, in reaction to the proposed “Al-Jaafari” law.

If approved the proposal would change the Personal Status Law established by Al-Maliki’s Council of Ministers, and would legalise marriage to girls of 9 and also ‘rehabilitating marriage’, giving even greater power to religious leaders in clear violation of the Iraqi Civil Code.

From the very start women activists have taken a strong position against sexual harassment and gender-based violence, and that continues today.

UPP supports this campaign and recently contributed to the creation of a Centre for the protection of women activists in Baghdad, offering free legal advice and training courses on personal safety.

In terms of our support of ICSSI and Iraqi Civil Society in general, we are working on awareness-raising initiatives and advocacy campaigns to increase visibility of the campaign in Italy and Europe.