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Rights organizations present a new study about Female Genital Mutilation in Iraq |
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Rights organizations present a new study about Female Genital Mutilation in Iraq
Suleymaniah June 13, 2012
The first data collected on female genital mutilation (FGM) in Iraq (outside of the Kurdish region) was presented today in a press conference in Kirkuk by the local women's right organization Pana and the German-Iraqi NGO Wadi. The organizations conducted an in-depth research in Kirkuk, in which 1212 women above the age of 13 were interviewed. According to this data 38.2% of women have undergone FGM.
With 65.4%, Kurdish women are the most affected ethnic group. Arab women hold 25.7% and Turkmen women 12.3%. The research team notes that this is a careful estimation, and should be regarded as minimum rates, because they are based on mere self-report.
The entire study is available to download in English or Arabic.
Some 40 people among them the mayor of Kirkuk attended the event, despite the tense security situation, following three car bombs attacks in the city the same morning.
Journalists from several Kurdish and Arab satellite TV stations and some local websites and newspapers were also present. The mayor of Kirkuk thanked the organizations for the research, declared his support and showed himself committed to ending FGM in Iraq.
This research proved that FGM is also practiced outside the region governed by the Kurdistan Regional government. Many women and girls may be affected throughout Iraq.
The Kurdish parliament has banned FGM by law in 2011. Now women's rights activists and organizations demand a similar ban to be issued by the national parliament in Baghdad.
Some encouraging news already came in today: According to some sources the Iraqi government is planning to include banning FGM into the penal code and awaits approval of the parliament.
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