Kurdistan Region kicks off 16-day campaign on violence against women
Foreign representatives, non-govermental organizations, and local governmental officials, and the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative to Iraq Jan Kubis all spoke at the launch in Erbil.
Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) PM Nechirvan Barzani said in closing remarks that the parliament has worked to pass important laws to combat violence against women.
"I would like to congratulate the women of Kurdistan who very courageously stand against violence on a daily basis," he said.
Barzani urged activists not to turn a blind eye on gender based violence in the Kurdistan Region.
The KRG interior ministry has a 119 Hot Line that works in coordination with the UNFPA. Barzani noted gender-based violence (GBV) is a global phenomenon.
"The question of women or violence against women is a cultural matter hundreds of years old. The parliament and government cannot alone carry this job. There must be pressure from women, too. We are showing full leniency towards women in order for gender equality be achieved," Barzani said.
As the KRG, they do not discriminate in violence committed against women and men, explained Barzani, who acknowledged historically women have been persecuted against in Kurdistan.
"We urge the media to show the disgusting acts against women to the public," he added.
He also congratulated 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Nadia Murad for sharing her story of survival from ISIS with the world.
Barzani thanked outgoing UN head in Iraq Jan Kubis for being present at the event.
The National Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women in the Kurdistan Region coincides with the with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.
"Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic," wrote UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a statement.
He added that it is a "deeply political issue."
"Violence can take many forms — from domestic attacks to trafficking, from sexual violence in conflict to child marriage, genital mutilation and femicide," noting the far-reaching consequences to families and society.
The day is jointly supported by the heads of UNDP, UNICEF, UN WOMEN, and UNFP which are advocating for a #HearMeToo slogan to build upon the #MeToo hashtag that encouraged survivors of violence to share their stories.
Rudaw
