Iraq to lower the ‘age of consent’ for girls to nine

You need to educate yourself. Particularly about the treatment of women of Hasidic and other orthodox Jewish sects.

Yet another threat to the safety and rights of women, and another example of how highly conservative men are dominating politics and placing women at risk. Politicians and activists prevented similar legislation in the past, and are trying to again. But, with a number of very influential and conservative politicians pushing this and the recent failure of the courts to intervene, the risk does feel quite real, which is a horrible thought for the many people in the country who want girls and women to have more, not fewer, rights.

The current standard age of consent is 18, but can drop to 15 in some cases with legal approval. Creating a route through which men could marry children of primary school age is something that should not be welcomed anywhere in the world. Wherever in the world she might be, a 9-year-old girl should be able to be safe from abuse.

There are quite a few organisations working to oppose this draft bill and to defend against the erosion of women's rights in Iraq and elsewhere in the world. These cross a wide spectrum of political viewpoints, faiths and cultures. I'd encourage everyone concerned about bills like this to get involved. Organisations like Amnesty International, Musawah, Aman Women Alliance, Girls Not Brides and more, are opposing this bill and other threats to women's rights. Please support them if you can. Every donation, every person becoming more informed, every act of practical or emotional support does help.

You sound like an IOF spokesperson

And yet here you are trying to minimise it. I absolutely do think people should be aware. What are your motives for not wanting it to be in the news?

It says 14 on that Wikipedia page ( not that Wikipedia is necessarily 100% accurate). There are lots of reputable sources saying the age of consent in Germany is minimum 14

Any excuse to bring up Trump. I’m not exactly his biggest fan, but he certainly wouldn’t allow this in the US. You just sound like another Western loathing lefty.

You mean the very terrorist organisations it created?

It's horrific but it's hardly surprising or the "worst thing I've read all year" or something which is what the OP said. I'm suspicious of the motives of people bringing it up now.

Gosh I’m concerned you think women’s rights were better before the Iraq war. It may be worth doing some reading up on that.

You think supporting a genocide will help, how?

Was the US war in Iraq not enough for you? Incidentally women's rights were better before they got involved.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent_in_Europe

No clarification or citation so I'm inclined to disbelieve it. The link above contains more detailed information regarding Germany and no mention is made of possible exceptions regarding 6 year olds.

For those asking the relevance of Israel. They are pivotal in the destroying of these horrendous islamist extremist groups in the likes or Iran.
It is indeed a travesty that we do not hear more about this Islamist extremism that is dominating the Middle East. Even in ‘safer’ countries like the UAE, it only recently became possible for women to drive alone.

And didn’t a young woman/teen in Iran commit suicide over correct dress and hair showing just the other day?

I’m sorry, I agree with Kemi.

Obviously, 9 is ridiculously low and would be 'legalising' rape of children.

However, I wonder how keen they would be for 9yo boys to be sexually active too? Are the similar age boy-children and their 'rights' in their consideration as well - or is this just a case of older men determined to abuse girls to get their jollies?

Even at a 'standard' western age of consent, I'm still very wary indeed of mature men in the UK going after 16yo girls.

However much they insist "It's all legal!" and make those with an issue with it out to be crazy prudes, it's a huge red flag to me when significantly older men are so keen to eschew relations with women of a similar age - or at least fully mature adults - In favour of girls who are still technically children - legal or not.

How does giving support to Israel help these girls in Iraq?

Well this is fairly old news, I was surprised few people were bothered about it a few weeks ago.

The current age of consent is 18 in theory, however like the UK I imagine this is fairly meaningless in real terms.

To add, in the context of rapidly spreading HIV this policy obviously had extremely detrimental effects. Rather than providing condoms and safe sex advice, the US response in sub Saharan African countries was to discourage condom use and preach abstinence. Thus making the situation much worse. US programmes, being generally well funded, have a disproportionate amount of influence there

It’s what is said on the Wikipedia page. There is no additional clarification.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent_by_country

The west stays silent as Afghan women are forbidden to even speak to one another and accept the conditions imposed by the Afghanistani government on the involvement of Western females in any aspect of work with them.

WHY on earth do we think other misogynistic and appalling regimes won't be emboldened or inspired to degrade women?

I just googled lowest age of concern in the world and it’s currently Angola & the Philippines at 12 years old.

Not Germany! Their age of consent is 14 as long as the relationship isn’t exploitative.

There's a ban in US foreign aid programmes providing contraception or family planning advice or supporting health services that do this. This has resulted in a reduction of these services being available in many developing countries. Clearly women in these countries did not vote for the US restricting their reproductive rights

Agree that statement needs to be explained @Ponoka7 as there would be a huge outcry if true.