The United Nations has voiced strong condemnation over a recent proposal by Iraq’s parliament to amend the country's personal status law, lowering the legal marriage age for girls from 18 to as young as nine years old. The amendment, if passed, would significantly impact the rights of young girls and women across Iraq.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed publicly denounced the legislation on social media, describing it as “an assault on childhood” and a move that would “undermine the rights and dignity of young girls.” According to Mohammed, the proposed law threatens the ability of young girls to reach their full potential, reducing their opportunities for growth, education, and personal freedom.

“The Iraqi Parliament’s proposal to lower the legal marriage age for girls from 18 to 9 years old is an assault on childhood,” Mohammed said. “Girls are not spouses—they are children who deserve their right to grow up with protection and dignity.”

The draft law seeks to amend Iraq’s longstanding personal status code, which governs family and marriage issues. If passed, the law would not only permit girls as young as nine to marry but would also impose restrictions on women's rights in areas such as divorce, child custody, and inheritance. The move has been widely criticized for drawing parallels with the strict restrictions imposed on women and girls under Taliban rule.

The proposed changes have sparked widespread concerns among Iraqi women’s rights activists, who argue that it marks a serious regression in women’s rights and protections. Previous efforts to amend Iraq’s personal status law have faced strong resistance from women's groups and civil society organizations, who are determined to protect the rights of young girls and women in Iraq.

This development comes amid Iraq's complex sectarian landscape, where the Shia Muslim majority holds power, further adding to the country's sectarian and social tensions. The proposal’s opponents argue that it reflects a conservative agenda that fails to protect vulnerable young girls and erodes hard-won rights for Iraqi women.

The UN and human rights organizations are urging Iraqi lawmakers to reconsider the proposal, calling on the government to uphold its commitment to international human rights standards, particularly concerning the rights and welfare of women and children.