THIS PETITION IS TO RAISE AWARENESS 

 This petition comes from deep concern and personal outrage. It is heartbreaking to witness that conservative Shia Muslim parties in Iraq are proposing a law to lower the 'age of consent' for girls to barely nine years. This will allow for a lifelong of physical, emotional, and social impacts for these young girls. 

Worldwide, more than 650 million women alive today were married before age 18, according to UNICEF. In Iraq, 24% of girls are already married before they reach eighteen - a number that is certain to dramatically increase if this law passes. Such practices take away the children's freedom and hinders their development. Girls who are married off at such a young age are at a higher risk of suffering from domestic violence, health problems and poverty. The proposed legal change also deprives women of rights to divorce, child custody and inheritance.

Most importantly, it take away their fundamental rights to education, health, safety and the ability to make choices about their own lives. 

Therefore, Raising awareness and rejecting such laws are critical in protecting the rights and futures of these young girls. Let us stand together and petition for the protection of the rights of young girls in Iraq who cannot petition for themselves. Please sign this petition to show your objection to this law proposal and support the rights of girls to a safe and inclusive childhood.