Legislative Analysis: Online Violence in Iraq and The Kurdistan Region

Authors: Adnan Qadir, Kristin Perry

Online violence encompasses “a broad array of harmful acts and behaviors that may be threatened, committed, facilitated, or aggravated through the use of information and communications technology (ICT).”

In Iraq and the Kurdistan Region specifically, digital harassment presents heightened risks due to existing conditions: high baseline violence rates, insufficient protective legal frameworks, and cultural pressures that compound dangers for those targeted.

This analysis examines both international standards and domestic legal structures applicable to addressing online violence. It advocates for a multifaceted governmental approach encompassing prevention, protection, prosecution, victim compensation, and coordinated policy initiatives. The authors conclude by offering specific legislative recommendations designed to assist the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government in establishing new protections against this escalating threat.