Baghdad-9 March 2008-The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for Iraq Staffan de Mistura, said during commemorations marking the International Women's Day, that, 'Iraqi women in particular are in a pressing need for our support, as they are the forgotten and silent victims of the ongoing violence.'
He noted that 70,000 have been widowed in the past 4-5 years. In the South, more than 100 women have been killed, and their bodies mutilated. In northern Iraq, at least 300 women and girls were victims of honor crimes last year, including being shot, strangled, beaten to death.
Mr. de Mistura added, 'Only by monitoring and shining a light on this issue can we bring it to an end.' He emphasized, 'Iraqi women urgently need legal, economic and social support, and access to shelter to guard against violence.' He highlighted the need for, 'improving chances for education and health, because healthy mothers mean healthy families, a healthy society and a healthy country.' He called for a national strategy to protect Iraqi women's rights in all aspects of their life, and expressed the United Nations readiness to assist in designing of such a national strategy.