Baghdad The thirteenth annual conference to combat violence against women was launched on Saturday morning, in the presence of the three presidencies.

The President of the Republic, Barham Salih, affirmed that the phenomenon of violence against women represents a dangerous social and political legacy.

In a speech at the thirteenth annual conference to combat violence against women, Salih said: “Today we are facing social and legislative challenges to confront the phenomenon of violence against women.”

Salih called for the October elections to be able to achieve reform.

he said: “All political and social forces must support the voters’ choice in choosing their representatives.”

He added: “The situation in Iraq needs a structural reform, and the way to that is the ballot boxes.

Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhimi affirmed: “The Iraqi woman is the whole of society, and we reject any violence against her.”

Al-Kadhimi called in a speech at the thirteenth annual conference to combat violence against women, the Ministry of Justice and the authorities the judiciary and the Ministry of the Interior, to prevent cases of violence and torture against women, enact laws and set severe penalties against perpetrators.

He added: “We must imitate our original culture of respecting women.”

Source: National Iraqi News Agency