Baghdad, 26 November 2008 – On the International Day on the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Iraq (SRSG), Staffan de Mistura called for the urgent establishment of a national legal framework guaranteeing the protection of women in Iraq.  "The situation of women in some parts of the country after years of conflict is very unsatisfactory."  

Continued violence against women because of their gender, threatens to undermine Iraq's families and society. "Women and girls are paying a disproportionate price for violence",continued the SRSG, "some are suffering widowhood, targeted violence, discrimination and repression, lack of access to education and health care and increased violence at home”.

The SRSG also hoped that this occasion will serve to draw an agenda of concrete measures and further a common awareness regarding the advancement of protection of women’s rights in all areas of Iraqi society.

“UNAMI would like to urge the support of all law enforcing agencies to redress the current climate of impunity by prioritizing the resolution of cases of violence against women and bringing those responsible to justice”, he said.