Stereotyped Roles for Men and Women in Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Abstract

Discrimination against female draws to a great degree upon the tradition and tribal mentality. The role given to women is to be subordinated to men and be in the service of men and the family. Boys and men are allowed to dominate women in aspects of social life. This stereotypical role assigned to women, based on traditions and tribal mentality, involves not only accepting violence to be administered against women but prescribes even violence.

CEDAW’s goal is to achieve equality between men and women to eradicate violence clashes with the local stereotype. CEDAW’s tools to bring about the needed changes have been to demand state party to it to translate their textual commitment to legal codes and practices.  This paper examines the national legislation of Iraq and Kurdistan to point out the degree of subordination of local laws to CEDAWs Article 5. The findings of this paper are that Kurdistan has introduced important changes to the laws but in regard to child marriage it has not reached the international standards.