ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - The Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) Interior Minister Reber Ahmed on Monday stressed the importance of eradicating gender-based violence (GBV) in the Region and around the world, noting that Prime Minister Masrour Barzani has ordered the exclusion of femicide perpetrators from general amnesties.

During an event marking the start of the 16 Days of Activism campaign, Interior Minister Reber Ahmed highlighted that preserving peace and combating GBV is a part of the government’s agenda by promoting the active participation of women in the executive and decision-making sectors, establishing centers for combating violence against women across the Region, setting up family consultation centers in all provinces, and setting up hotlines and applications to assist those at risk.

“Based on the directives and instructions from the esteemed Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, femicide perpetrators must not be included in general amnesties,” said Ahmed.

The Kurdistan Region parliament passed the Combating Domestic Violence Law in 2011 and launched a support hotline for victims of violence seven years later. The hotline was contacted over 10,000 times in 2023, according to the Directorate of Combating Violence against Women (DCVAW).

A mobile application to tackle violence against women was launched in 2021.

The interior minister called on the civil society, which he described as “the backbone for change,” to continue their advocacy for eliminating violence against women and girls, emphasizing their important role in tackling the crucial issue.

He also urged the male population to be supportive and active in eradicating violence against women, and to “speak up against the harmful norms and support the women and girls of your community.”

“My message to women everywhere: Make your voices heard and ask for your rightful status in decision-making. Your views, strength, and abilities carry their own importance for building a better world and will produce results,” he added.

Despite the legislated law and ongoing measures from authorities, the Kurdistan Region continues to suffer from high rates of GBV, including domestic violence, sexual violence, and honor killings.

At least 30 women were killed by direct male family members in 2023, according to data from DCVAW, but the actual number is believed to be much higher. Cases of abuse against women are severely underreported in the Kurdistan Region, as publicizing such issues goes against the population’s conservative-majority mindset and risks damaging “family honor.”

The 16 Days of Activism is an annual international campaign, first initiated by activists in 1991, aimed at raising awareness and calling for the prevention and eradication of violence against women.

The theme of this year’s campaign is “Towards 30 Years of The Beijing Declaration And Platform For Action: Unite To End Violence Against Women,” referring to the 1995 resolution adopted by the UN which promotes a set of principles concerning the equality of men and women. The UN has labeled the Beijing Declaration “the most progressive blueprint ever for advancing women's rights.”