“Defamation and violence against candidates — women and men — is a threat to the integrity of the electoral process. Vulgar acts against posters of women candidates and attacks against reputation and honour of candidates and their families, pressing them to step down, particularly bring anguish to women, for it hurt their and their family honour, dignity and reputation, affect their participation as voters, candidates, election officials, activists and future political leaders and members of parliament and government,” stated UNAMI head Jan Kubis.
His remarks came in Baghdad on Tuesday after meeting with several female candidates on lists to run in Iraq's parliamentary elections.
“Active participation of women in the election means success of the election process and democracy in Iraq. Those behind defamation, cyber bullying and harassment are trying to scare you off, afraid of educated, dynamic, qualified, courageous and open-minded women candidates that rightfully claim their space and meaningful role in political life of Iraq as a critical factor of positive change,” Kubis added.
He reiterated that all political parties signed the UN-backed Electoral Charter of Honour that calls on all political parties and their supporters throughout Iraq including the Kurdistan Region to abide by the text and spirit of the document.
There were many publicized attacks against women candidates in the first week of official campaigning.
The Victory (Nasr) Coalition of Haider al-Abadi withdrew the candidacy of one of its members after an alleged sex tape of her was circulated online.
A candidate running on the election list of the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) filed a complaint after a video of her wearing a short dress at a birthday party was leaked on social media.
A man in Najaf had to pay $84,000 after footage went viral of him kissing and putting his wet finger on a campaign poster of an Ansar al-Haq (Truth Defenders) list candidate.
In Iraq's parliamentary elections on May 12, 503 candidates (357 men, 146 female) will try to win 329 seats. Iraq has a 25 percent quota system for gender.
