Sulaymaniyah- Combating violence and protecting children in the contemporary world is one  of the fundamental pillars of human rights. Ongoing international efforts, through the decignatiion of international days, seek to break the silence surrounding cases of harassment and ill-treatment suffered by children.

When discussing this issue, two main international occasions emerge, each shedding light on a different aspect of this file. In contrasrt, legislative developments in countries such as Iraq, partivularly the proposed amendment to the Personal Status Law, raise genuine fears of undermining these international principles.

An international strategy to confront child abuse

The international system organizes efforts through two main milestones. The first is June 4, 2026, Known as the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, established by the United Nations in 1982.

Although it was initially declared as a reaction to the victims of the war in Lebanon that year, its scope quickly expanded to become a global occasion. This day aims to directly acknowledge the suffering of children who are subjected to physical, psychological, and emotional violence, with a special focus on children in conflict zones, wars, and politically unstable environments.

This day also reaffirms the UN’s commitment to protecting children’s rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and serves as a reminder that children remain the most affected group during conflicts, geopolitical shifts, or in the presence of legislative gaps that threaten their fundamental rights.

The second milestone... Universal Children's Day

The second milestone is November 18, designated as the World Day for the Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence. While June 4 highlights children in conflict and war zones, this day focuses more on forms of domestic, social, and internal abuse.

This occasion was launched in 2000 with the aim of building an alliance of organizations to work on reducing daily violations suffered by children, such as domestic violence, sexual assault, child marriage, human trafficking, and severe neglect.

These efforts aim to shift society from a culture of reaction to a culture of prevention, through promoting education, strengthening community oversight, and enacting strict national laws that criminalize early marriage and physical violence.

The four basic pillars of forms of child abuse

To effectively understand and confront this phenomenon, international frameworks classify child abuse into four main forms:

Physical abuse – any intentional physical harm inflicted on a child, from corporal punishment at home and school to severe forms of violence. The primary prevention strategy is implementing strict laws against domestic violence and promoting positive parenting awareness.

Emotional and psychological abuse – constant rejection, intimidation, humiliation, or isolating the child in a way that destroys their self‑confidence and reduces their self‑worth. Prevention measures include providing mental health services in schools and building social support systems that protect and support children.

Sexual abuse and harassment – forcing or luring a child into sexual activities, including marriage conducted under weak or non‑deterrent laws. The main mechanism to reduce this phenomenon is enacting a clear law setting the age of consent and establishing a strong legal framework that prevents traditional loopholes exploited to perpetrate these violations.

Neglect – failure by parents or caregivers to provide a child's basic needs, such as food, clothing, education, healthcare, or emotional care. Prevention strategies include creating economic safety nets for poor or incapable families and activating community reporting mechanisms to protect children from this type of violation.

Opening the door to systematic violations

While the world is moving toward tightening child protection laws, Iraq is witnessing wide debate and heated controversy over the proposed amendment to Personal Status Law No. 188 of 1959. This amendment is supported by some political and religious parties, while human rights and civil society organizations consider it a dangerous regression in the protection of children's and women's rights.

The main concerns about this amendment focus on several levels:

First: Legalizing child marriage – the amendment is feared to open the door to allowing the marriage of minors outside official courts by referring the matter to the religious jurisprudence of sects. Some religious interpretations permit the marriage of girls at a very young age, possibly as young as nine years old. This is a clear violation of children's rights to education and proper physical and psychological development.

Second: Legalizing forms of physical and psychological violence – marrying a child at an early age imposes family responsibilities beyond their capacity, which falls under systematic physical and psychological violence. This could be given legal legitimacy instead of being criminalized, depriving the child of their most basic rights.

Third: Weakening state and judicial oversight – granting religious and sectarian authorities the power to conclude marriage and divorce reduces the role of the official judiciary in protecting rights. This weakens legal protection for children and women in cases of family disputes or divorce, especially in crucial issues such as child custody, and threatens the future of coming generations.

In a country like Iraq, which suffers from the long‑term effects of wars, conflicts, and terrorism, children need greater legal, psychological, and social protection. Therefore, any amendment allowing child marriage is a dangerous regression from human values and the international obligations Iraq has ratified.

These international days affirm that protecting children is not an option but a fundamental legal and moral duty for every state striving for a stable and healthy future. Moreover, passing such amendments could open the door to multiple forms of legal and social violations against children and place the future of coming generations under deep and long‑term risks.