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KHRP | Kurdish Human Rights Project

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Kurdish Human Rights Project: This is the legacy website of the Kurdish Human Rights Project, containing reports and news pertaining to human rights issues in the Kurdish Regions for 20 years.
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KHRP Calls for Change on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
With today designated by the United Nations as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, KHRP renews its call for state authorities throughout the Kurdish regions to improve the protection of women’s rights.

In recent years, KHRP and its partners have identified economic and political instability, patriarchal societies, and lack of legal protection as being amongst the chief issues that make violence against women all too common in the Kurdish regions.  Human rights violations against women are too often dismissed by cultural relativists or by those who are willing to accept ‘honour’ killings, forced marriages, domestic violence, as well as economic dependence and lack of education as ‘part of life’ in conflict areas.  All the while, UN Security Council Resolution 1325, which guarantees special protection for women in conflict areas, remains underutilised by the international community when calling governments to account for their actions in conflict areas.

‘The equality and security of at least half of the population is an essential part of establishing a free and fair society,’ said KHRP Deputy Director Rachel Bernu. ‘There is a real need in the Kurdish regions to confront taboo subjects and to strengthen and enforce laws that are in place to protect women from gender-based violence. KHRP calls on governments throughout the region to strengthen the rule of law and to reform courts and other institutions in order to ensure that women are afforded adequate protection in light of the special problems that they face, and that violations of women’s rights do not go unpunished.’