SHILER KOYI

Koye_The lack of legal awareness remains one of the most prominent obstacles preventing women from obtaining their rights in the Kurdistan Region. A large percentage of women still hesitate to resort to the judiciary due to social customs, despite the fact that the law provides them with protection and means to reclaim their rights.

In societies dominated by patriarchal mentality, when a woman needs to resort to the law, courts or security institutions to file a complaint, it is viewed as shameful. For this reason, many women distance themselves from the law, leaving their problems within the family unresolved.

This leads to an increase in suicide rates among women_ those who find no support or solution to their problems choose to end their suffering by harming themselves or even considering suicide when their children are taken from them by their husbands, for example, or due to continuous violence. Suzan Hamah Saeed, head of the legal department at Directorate of Social Monitoring and Development in Koye, Kurdistan Region, says that a large segment of women do not know their legal rights, and therefore “this segment is often deprived of its rights, even though the Iraqi constitution and laws issued by parliament contain provisions that protect women’s rights and prevent their violation when they are subjected to violence.”

She affirmed that it is essential for women to pursue legal follow-up and not make hasty decisions when any problem arises, as this may lead to larger issues. She explained that courts include lawyers and legal advisors, and there are legal departments in government offices, especially within institutions of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, that deal with family problems. There is also the police and security agencies whose mission is to protect citizens. Therefore, women should resort to them when needed in order to obtain guidance and preserve their rights, while also respecting the rights of others.

Suzan Hamah Saeed explained that forms of violence are multiple, but the most prevalent currently is through social media platforms, where women are threatened with abusive language or through the use of their photos. "Some women, due to their weak knowledge of the law, resort to wrong solutions, such as paying money to blackmailers or ending their lives—which is the greatest harm they can inflict on themselves—while the law gives them the means to reclaim their rights."

Suzan Hamah Saeed affirmed that resorting to court is not something to be ashamed of, and that this social perception must be eliminated. She called on women to educate themselves before facing any problem, and to use smartphones to follow legal and awareness materials instead of wasting time on unhelpful matters, so that they become more aware of their rights and the rights of those around them.

She added that she is "happy to see a growing number of women seeking to develop their legal knowledge and spread awareness among community members," thanking our agency for its continuous efforts in raising women's awareness of their rights. She expressed her hope that other channels and media outlets would follow suit, given the important role of media in spreading awareness.

She also wished for students to be introduced to their rights from the early stages of schooling, and for a legal subject to be included in the educational curriculum. She called on everyone to spread legal culture in schools, from mosque pulpits, through media, and in all public places.