The 'New' Iraq

“Particularly women’s rights levels and standards have gone down. They suffer from widespread violence, especially from domestic violence,” Rupert Colville, the spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, told IPS.'There is little legislation to prevent this from occurring and the criminal code in Iraq almost encourages these crimes. There needs to be laws in the region against domestic violence,” Colville said.The treatment of minorities was also heavily covered in the report.Samer Muscati, a researcher for Human Rights Watch, told IPS, “Minorities have suffered hugely since 2003. We have also released similar two reports explaining this, as have many rights agencies.”“Kurds, Christians, Persians, and Yarsans are among some the groups targeted for violence. This rise is caused by general insecurity and a rise in religious extremism,” he said. “These groups are also targeted by desperate criminal gangs because they are believed to have huge wealth.” More here.