Women Rights

Iraq continued to face heightened concern over security and human rights conditions, with recent reporting highlighting ongoing risks faced by civilians, particularly women, amid broader instability linked to armed groups and weak enforcement of protections.

Concerns over women’s rights and gender-based violence in Iraq remained high, as rights groups and international observers continued to highlight ongoing risks faced by women in both public and private life.

15-year-old Kawthar Bashar Al-Husayjawi was murdered in the Nahrawan area east of Baghdad after refusing to marry her cousin.

Human rights monitors and governance-focused reports highlighted continuing concerns regarding the protection of women and minors in Iraq,

A leading Iraqi women’s rights activist, Yanar Mohammed — founder and long‑time director of the Organization of Women’s Freedom in Iraq and a key voice for gender equality — was shot dead outside her home in Baghdad

Baghdad, early 2026 — Human rights groups and survivors of forced child marriage have sounded the alarm over recent legal changes and social trends in Iraq that continue to put girls at grave risk of exploitation and abuse.