Promoting Child Rights through Legal Reform in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (2025)

This article examines ongoing efforts to strengthen child protection systems in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq through legal and institutional reform initiatives supported by Save the Children International and the Kurdistan Regional Government. A national workshop convened government institutions, legal experts, and civil society actors to review existing child-related legislation and develop a roadmap for aligning laws with international child rights standards, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. The discussions identified major legislative, institutional, implementation, and data gaps that weaken child protection and access to services. In response, participants proposed a comprehensive Child Protection Law, reforms to juvenile justice systems, legislation addressing violence and online abuse, and frameworks supporting children affected by conflict and displacement. The initiative also emphasized institutional strengthening through professional training, coordination mechanisms, and unified data systems to support evidence-based policymaking. By combining legal reform, governance strengthening, and multi-stakeholder coordination, the initiative aims to establish a more integrated, accountable, and child-centred protection system that safeguards children’s rights and improves access to justice and essential services across the Kurdistan Region.