Iraq Proposes Bill Allowing 9-year-old Girls to be Married | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Firstpost

9 Aug 202406:59

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses a controversial bill in Iraq proposing to reduce the legal age of marriage for girls to nine, a move that critics argue would endanger women and promote child marriage. The bill is part of an effort to align personal matters with religious sects, potentially legalizing unregistered marriages that often involve minors. Activists and women's groups are protesting against this regressive legislation, which contradicts global efforts to eliminate child marriage by 2030. The script also highlights the broader issue of using women's rights as a bargaining chip to assert religious or political ideologies.

Takeaways

📜 Iraq is considering a new bill that would reduce the legal marriage age for women to nine years old, a move that is seen as regressive and endangering to women's rights.
👰 The current law, from 1959, allows courts to decide on personal issues such as marriage and divorce, but the new proposal seeks to mandate couples to select a sect for personal issue decisions, which could lead to increased child marriages.
🧙‍♂️ The new bill is supported by some hardline clerics in Iraq who promote child marriage, reflecting a broader issue of outdated religious beliefs affecting women's rights globally.
📉 28% of Iraqi girls are married before the age of 18, and 22% of unregistered marriages involve brides under the age of 14, indicating a significant problem with child marriage that the bill would potentially legitimize.
💐 Activists and women's groups in Iraq are protesting against the bill, demanding its withdrawal, showing a strong opposition to the regressive legislation.
🏛 The 1959 law was an attempt to limit the role of religion in personal matters, but the current political climate in Iraq, with the presence of hardline Islamist parties, is pushing for a rollback of these laws.
🗳️ A similar bill was previously pushed in Iraq's Parliament but faced significant outrage, suggesting that public sentiment may be against such measures.
🔄 The bill is gaining more traction this time due to the support of the largest Shia coalition in Iraq, increasing the likelihood of its passage.
🌐 The United Nations aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030, but the proposed law in Iraq would significantly set back these efforts, with the presenter suggesting it could take 300 years at the current rate.
🌍 Child marriage is not just an issue in Iraq; it is a global problem, with Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia accounting for the majority of child marriages, despite being illegal in some places.
🚫 The script highlights a pattern of limiting women's rights for political or religious reasons, comparing the situation in Iraq to other instances where women's rights are restricted to demonstrate commitment to certain ideologies.

Q & A

What is the proposed change in Iraq regarding the legal age of marriage for women?
-The proposed change in Iraq is to reduce the legal age of marriage for women from 18 to 9 years old.
Why is this new bill considered 'Draconian' and 'barbaric'?
-This bill is considered 'Draconian' and 'barbaric' because it would legalize child marriage, which endangers the well-being and rights of young girls.
What does the current 1959 law in Iraq say about personal matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance?
-The 1959 law allows courts to decide on personal issues like marriage, divorce, and inheritance, without mandating a religious sect to be chosen by couples.
What is the main issue with the new proposal regarding personal matters in Iraq?
-The main issue with the new proposal is that it requires couples to select a sect before marriage, and all personal matters will be decided by jurists of that sect, rather than a civilian court or government arbitrator.
How prevalent is child marriage in Iraq, according to the transcript?
-According to the transcript, 28% of Iraqi girls are married before the age of 18, and 22% of unregistered marriages involve brides under the age of 14.
What is the reaction of activists and women's groups in Iraq to this new bill?
-Activists and women's groups in Iraq are opposing the bill and have held protests in major cities, demanding the withdrawal of the bill.
What political shift has made the new bill more likely to pass this time compared to the previous attempt?
-The biggest Shia Coalition of Iraq is now on board with the new bill, making it more likely to pass this time.
What is the global goal set by the United Nations regarding child marriage?
-The United Nations aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030.
How does the proposed bill in Iraq relate to the global issue of child marriage?
-The proposed bill in Iraq would exacerbate the issue of child marriage, which is a global problem affecting regions like Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
What are the potential consequences for girls who are married at a young age, as mentioned in the script?
-Girls married at a young age are more likely to experience domestic abuse, are less likely to be in school, and are more likely to face health problems.
What is the broader principle behind the script's argument against limiting women's rights for religious or political reasons?
-The broader principle is that limiting women's rights to prove religious or political commitment can have severe real-world consequences, such as increased child marriage, domestic abuse, and reduced access to education.

Outlines

00:00

😨 Controversial Child Marriage Bill in Iraq

The Iraqi government is considering a bill that would drastically lower the legal age of marriage for girls to nine years old, a move that has sparked outrage and protests among activists and women's groups. Currently set at 18, this change is part of a broader effort to align personal matters, including marriage and divorce, with religious sects rather than civil courts. The 1959 law, which is being replaced, allowed for more progressive rulings by courts. The new bill would enforce decisions by Islamic jurists of the couple's chosen sect. This shift is driven by hardline Islamist parties seeking to solidify religious control over personal laws. Despite 28% of Iraqi girls already being married before 18, and 22% of unregistered marriages involving underage brides, the United Nations aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030. The proposed law threatens this goal, potentially setting back progress by centuries and endangering the health, education, and safety of young girls.

05:01

🌳 One Tree for Humanity: A Climate Change Initiative

This paragraph introduces a news initiative by News 18 Network called 'One Tree for Humanity,' aimed at combating climate change through afforestation. The project encourages every Indian to plant a tree, symbolizing a collective effort to combat environmental degradation. The initiative is presented as a revolutionary step towards sustainability, with the potential to make a significant impact given India's population of 1.4 billion. The paragraph also mentions the involvement of news anchors from different regions, including South Africa and Washington DC, indicating a global approach to the issue.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Draconian step

A 'Draconian step' refers to a measure that is extremely harsh and severe, often leading to significant negative consequences. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the proposal to reduce the legal age of marriage for women in Iraq to nine years old, which is seen as a regressive move that would have detrimental effects on the rights and well-being of young girls.

💡Personal matters

In the script, 'personal matters' refers to the legal domain that governs issues such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance in Iraq. The video discusses how a 1959 law, which allowed courts to decide on these issues, is being threatened by a new proposal that would instead require couples to select a religious sect, with matters then being decided by Islamic jurists rather than civilian courts.

💡Hardline clerics

Hardline clerics are religious leaders who adhere to strict interpretations of religious doctrine. The video mentions that many hardline clerics in Iraq do not oppose child marriage and may even promote it, which is a significant factor contributing to the prevalence of child marriages and the push for legalizing them.

💡Unregistered marriages

An 'unregistered marriage' is a union that is not officially recognized by the government. The script points out that many marriages in Iraq, particularly child marriages, are not registered with the government but are conducted by religious figures, indicating a lack of oversight and legal protection for the parties involved.

💡Activists and women's groups

Activists and women's groups are individuals and organizations that advocate for social, political, or environmental change, often focusing on issues affecting women. In the video, these groups are opposing the new bill in Iraq that would lower the marriageable age for girls, holding protests in major cities to express their dissent.

💡1959 law

The '1959 law' mentioned in the script is an old legal framework in Iraq that attempted to limit the role of religion in personal matters. The video contrasts this law with the new proposal, which seeks to increase the influence of religious sects in deciding personal issues, reflecting a shift in the country's political and social landscape.

💡Hardline Islamist parties

Hardline Islamist parties are political groups that advocate for strict adherence to Islamic law and principles. The video suggests that these parties in Iraq are supporting the new bill to reduce the marriageable age for girls, as part of their broader agenda to roll back personal laws and assert their religious credentials.

💡Child marriage

Child marriage is the practice of marrying individuals before they reach the age of 18, often with significant negative impacts on their health, education, and social development. The video discusses the prevalence of child marriage in Iraq and globally, and the efforts to legalize it through the new bill, which is seen as a major concern for the rights and well-being of young girls.

💡Religious Renaissance

A 'Religious Renaissance' refers to a resurgence or revival of religious practices, beliefs, or influence in society. The video uses this term to critique the motivations behind the push for legalizing child marriage in Iraq, suggesting that it is driven by a desire to assert religious authority rather than the best interests of the girls involved.

💡Domestic abuse

Domestic abuse, also known as domestic violence, involves physical, emotional, or sexual harm within the context of a household. The video script highlights that girls who are married at a young age, such as those affected by child marriage, are more likely to experience domestic abuse, underscoring the serious consequences of such practices.

💡United Nations

The United Nations (UN) is an international organization that aims to promote peace, security, and cooperation among countries. The video mentions the UN's goal to eliminate child marriage by 2030, contrasting this with the current situation in Iraq and other regions where child marriage remains prevalent, indicating a significant challenge to achieving this global objective.

Highlights

Iraq is considering a bill to reduce the marriageable age for women to nine, a move that could have severe implications for the country's women.

The current law, established in 1959, is being challenged by a new proposal that seeks to govern personal matters through religious sects rather than civilian courts.

The new bill would require couples to select a sect before marriage, with all personal issues decided by jurists of that sect.

Hardline clerics in Iraq promote child marriage, and the new bill could legalize unregistered child marriages that are already prevalent in the country.

Statistics show that 28% of Iraqi girls are married before the age of 18, and 22% of unregistered marriages involve brides under 14.

Activists and women's groups in Iraq are protesting against the bill and demanding its withdrawal.

The 1959 law was an attempt to limit the role of religion in personal matters, reflecting the leftwing ideology of the time.

The current political climate in Iraq, with the presence of hardline Islamist parties, is pushing for a rollback of personal laws.

A similar bill was previously rejected due to public outrage, but the largest Shia coalition's support increases the likelihood of the bill's passage this time.

The United Nations aims to eliminate child marriage by 2030, but the current rate suggests it could take much longer to achieve this goal globally.

Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia account for the majority of child marriages worldwide, with India alone making up 33% despite child marriage being illegal.

The issue of child marriage is linked to outdated religious beliefs that cause suffering for young girls around the world.

Politicians are criticized for limiting women's rights to prove their religious commitment, with real-world consequences for girls forced into child marriage.

Child marriage is associated with increased likelihood of domestic abuse, lower educational attainment, and health problems for young girls.

The news source emphasizes the importance of diverse perspectives and unfiltered news reporting on critical issues.

A call to action for a climate change revolution, starting with individual contributions to environmental preservation.

The news network initiative 'One Tree for Humanity' encourages planting trees as a step towards combating climate change.

The news report transitions to a special segment on India, highlighting the interconnectedness of global issues.