Juvenile Laws at Iraq
Iraq's juvenile justice system has undergone significant reforms in recent years, aiming to align with international standards and protect children's rights. Here's an overview of the current legal framework and recent developments:
π Legal Framework
Juvenile Welfare Law No. 76 of 1983
Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility:The law currently sets the minimum age at 9 years. However, discussions are underway to raise this age to 11 years, aligning with practices in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and international norms
Rehabilitation Focus:ξThe law emphasizes rehabilitation over punitive measures, aiming to reintegrate juveniles into society
Juvenile Welfare Bill (Pending Approval)
-In July 2023, the Ministry of Justice approved a draft of the Juvenile Welfare Bill, aiming to update the existing law to better align with Iraq's international commitments and modern standards. The bill has been forwarded to the State Council for review before being sent to the Council of Ministers for approval
βοΈ Recent Developments
Juvenile Justice Reform Initiatives:The European Union and UNODC launched the "Protect the Future" project to enhance access to justice for vulnerable groups, including children and adolescents. The program focuses on protecting children from abuse, raising awareness about juvenile rights, and improving detention conditions
Juvenile Detention Enhancements:ξIn November 2024, the refurbishment of the Young Boys Rehabilitation School (Al-Rashad) in Baghdad was completed. This initiative, part of the STRIVE Juvenile project, aimed to improve living conditions and provide educational and recreational facilities for detained juveniles
Capacity Building:Training programs have been conducted for judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officers to ensure the juvenile justice system upholds children's best interests and aligns with international standards
π¨ Ongoing Challenges
Child Marriage Concerns ξIn January 2025, amendments to Iraq's personal status law were passed, potentially lowering the legal age of marriage to as young as nine under certain interpretations. Critics argue this undermines protections for women's and girls' right.
Detention Conditions While improvements have been made, challenges remain in ensuring that detention facilities provide adequate education, vocational training, and psychological support to facilitate the reintegration of juveniles into societ.
π International Commitments
*UNICEF Collaboration: UNICEF has been actively involved in supporting Iraq's juvenile justice reforms, including capacity-building for juvenile justice stakeholders and promoting non-custodial measures. The Dohuk juvenile and women reformatory received the Mandela Prize for 2023, recognizing its adherence to international standars.
*STRIVE Juvenile Project: Launched in July 2021, this project aims to prevent and respond to violence against children and juveniles associated with terrorist and violent extremist groups, focusing on rehabilitation and reintegratin.
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While Iraq has made significant strides in reforming its juvenile justice system, ongoing efforts are needed to address challenges such as child marriage, detention conditions, and ensuring that reforms benefit all regions equitaby.
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