Iraq to reduce legal marriage age of girls to 9 years

A bill that has sparked significant controversy has been put forward in the Iraqi parliament, aiming to lower the legal age of marriage for girls to 9 and boys to 15. The proposed legislation has raised alarm among human rights organisations and women’s advocacy groups, who are deeply concerned about its potential impact on children’s well-being and rights. As it stands, Iraqi law mandates that individuals must be at least 18 years old to enter into marriage.