ڕاپۆرت
A new report released by the Women's Legal Assistance Organization (WOLA) reveals a significant increase in divorce cases across the Kurdistan Region during 2025, alongside a rise in marriage registrations and continued concerns over family violence.
بڵاوکراوەتەوە لە : 20 حوزەیران 2026
قەبارەی دەقەکان
قەبارەی دەقەکان
According to the report, a total of 15,826 divorce cases were registered in 2025, compared with 12,384 cases in 2024. This represents an increase of 3,442 cases, or approximately 28 percent year-on-year.
At the same time, marriage registrations also increased. Courts across the Kurdistan Region recorded 61,328 marriages in 2025, up from 51,028 marriages in 2024, marking an increase of 10,300 marriages.
WOLA Presents Annual Monitoring Report
The findings were presented during a press conference held on June 20, 2026, where WOLA unveiled its annual assessment of the implementation of the Family Violence Prevention Law in the Kurdistan Region.
Representatives from more than 20 media organizations attended the event, where project staff reviewed key statistics, survey results, recommendations, and observations regarding the law's enforcement.
Project Director Shokhan Hamarashid outlined the overall status of implementation across the region, while lawyer Gona Majid presented data and monitoring results related to family-related cases in Sulaymaniyah Province.
The initiative was conducted with support from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED).
Family Violence Court Statistics
Erbil
The Family Violence Misdemeanor Court registered 1,641 cases in 2025.
The Family Violence Investigation Court handled 3,819 cases.
Sulaymaniyah
The Family Violence Investigation Court recorded 4,703 active cases and 2,937 resolved cases.
The Family Violence Misdemeanor Court recorded 431 active cases and 304 resolved cases.
Duhok
The Family Violence Investigation Court reported a total of 1,030 cases during the year.
Key Recommendations
The report called on authorities to strengthen the implementation of family violence legislation through several measures, including:
Expanding access to legal representation for victims of family violence.
Ensuring protection orders are effectively enforced throughout the Kurdistan Region.
Establishing specialized Family Violence Courts and family affairs offices in Halabja.
Creating a dedicated family affairs court in the Raparin Administration.
Enhancing cooperation with the Kurdistan Bar Association to support lawyers working on family-related cases.
WOLA emphasized the need for stronger institutional coordination and greater legal support to improve protections for families and vulnerable individuals across the region.
