Toward Safe Digital Spaces

The Importance of Legislation to Address Online Violence in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region

Online violence has emerged as a new and insidious threat in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, with profound implications for the well-being of all, but particularly grave consequences for already vulnerable groups, including women and children.

This technical brief introduces the phenomenon of online violence and the role of legislation in addressing it. By examining relevant international standards for combating violence against women and children in the digital dimension and assessing the current legislative environment in Iraq and the Kurdistan against those benchmarks, this paper establishes the core components of a strong legislative response to online violence and argues that swift and concerted action is needed to preserve essential rights and protections in an increasingly digital world.

Author: Kristin Perry