College of Tourism Sciences

Asst. Prof. Dr Wissam Abdullah Hussein, Head of the Department of Hotel Studies at the College of Tourism Sciences, took part in the panel discussion organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Baghdad under the slogan “Dialogue is the Foundation.” The session explored the best ways to preserve human capital and promote community development.

During the session, Dr Wissam presented a specialised research paper titled “Early Marriage of Females and Its Relation to Stillbirths within the First Axis of Amending the Personal Status Law No. (188) of 1959 as Amended by Law No. (1) of 2025.” His paper addressed the major social consequences of early marriage, such as deprivation of education and its negative impact on reproductive health and family stability. He also proposed many practical solutions to tackle these challenges, stressing the importance of setting an appropriate age for marriage for both genders.

The session witnessed the participation of a distinguished group of academic, legal, and judicial figures, along with national experts and representatives of state institutions and civil society organizations. The discussion centred on issues of marriage, divorce, and domestic violence, as well as ways to improve legislation and services related to the development of human capital.

In this context, Prof. Dr. Manal Raafat Khalid, Dean of the College of Tourism Sciences, praised Dr. Wissam Abdullah Hussein’s participation, affirming that he competently represented the college at such an important national forum.

This participation aligns with the support of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 3 (Good Health and Well-being), Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).