Criminal Safeguards for Women Against Psychological Violence

Abstract

This study addresses the issue of psychological violence against women, considered one of the most dangerous forms of violations that occur covertly yet leave profound psychological and social consequences. Psychological violence is defined as any verbal or non-verbal behavior that undermines a woman’s dignity or threatens her mental well-being, including humiliation, threats, isolation, emotional manipulation, and deprivation of rights.

The study focuses on analyzing this type of violence from legal and societal perspectives by comparing national laws (particularly in Iraq) with comparative models such as the Kurdish, French, and Lebanese legislations. It highlights the absence of explicit legal provisions criminalizing psychological violence in Iraqi law, which weakens the available criminal protection for women.

The research emphasizes that requiring victims to file formal complaints and the lack of legal and societal awareness represent major challenges in confronting this phenomenon. Furthermore, it underlines the negative consequences on both women and society, such as psychological disorders, deterioration of family relationships, and decreased female economic participation.