WUNRN
IRAQ - ABUSES OF WOMEN IN IRAQ'S
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Direct Link to Full 111-Page Human
Rights Watch 2014 Report:
Report Summary: http://www.hrw.org/reports/2014/02/06/no-one-safe
February
7, 2014 - Both men and women suffer from the severe flaws of the criminal
justice system. But women suffer a double burden due to their second class
status in Iraqi society. According to witness accounts and to information
numerous civil society activists and international nongovernmental
organizations (NGOs) provided to Human Rights Watch, women are frequently
targeted not only for crimes they themselves are said to have committed, but to
harass male family or tribal members. Furthermore, once they have been
detained, and even if they are released unharmed, women are frequently
stigmatized by their family or tribe, who perceive them to have been
dishonored.
The abuse of women by Iraqi security forces and violations of their rights by Iraq's judiciary have become increasingly contentious issues.
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