Women in Iraq push to criminalise domestic violence

For almost a decade, women have been encouraging their parliament to pass a law that would criminalise domestic violence and they hope this year will be different.

Domestic violence has been on the rise in Iraq, with women’s groups blaming instability and the break down of law and order.

However, there has been a growing awareness of the issue at the highest levels of government and the women’s rights groups are hopeful that the legislature will finally pass a law criminalising what they see as a “national crisis”.

The penal code currently has a provision allowing husbands to discipline their wives and does not criminalise domestic violence.

Al Jazeera’s Natasha Ghoneim reports from Baghdad.

By Natasha Ghoneim