Recent Work
Latest activities
The Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy held the “Conference on Presenting the Findings of the Jurisprudential and Legal Study on the Religious Status of Children of Unknown Fathers and Non-Muslim Mothers.”
The conference was attended by representatives of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Kurdistan Parliament, the Judicial Council, the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Public Prosecution, the Office of KRG Coordination for International Advocacy(OCIA) the Independent Human Rights Commission, the Kurdistan Union of Islamic Scholars, Kurdistan Bar Association, Yazidi Spiritual Council, Yazidi community activists and researchers, academics, and representatives of civil society organizations.The conference was held as part of the activities of the project “Building Peace and Stability in Iraq,” with financial support from the Italian organization UPP and the British FCDO.The conference aimed to discuss the Sharia and legal aspects of this issue, present the challenges, and identify suitable solutions for guaranteeing these children’s rights, within the framework of strengthening coexistence and social stability.During the conference, Dr. Dindar Zebari, Coordinator of International Recommendations in the Kurdistan Regional Government, delivered a speech highlighting the different aspects of this problem. He pointed to the responsibility of the Kurdistan Regional Government and the Iraqi government to find a legal solution to this issue.Dr. Abdullah Saeed Wisi then presented a summary of his study on determining the child’s religious identity from the mother when the father is absent, from a Sharia perspective.Next, retired judge Salem Rawdhan presented a summary of his study on “The Dimensions of the Iraqi Judiciary and Legislative Policy Regarding Freedom of Religious Choice in Adulthood.”The floor was then opened for discussion, and attendees enriched the topic with their opinions and comments.
IOL Organization conducted a series of legal awareness trainings for civil activists and journalists.
This activity was carried out within the framework of the "Enhancing the Rule of Law in Iraq" project, with financial support from Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). Under the title "Constitutional and Legal Rights of the Accused According to Iraqi Laws," this training series was successfully implemented with the active participation of attendees in the southern provinces of Iraq. The trainings took place on October 17, 2026, in Diwaniyah province; on October 19 in Maysan (Amarah) province; and on October 21, 2026, in Dhi Qar (Nasiriyah) province.During the trainings, several important and fundamental topics were highlighted. These included analyzing the rights and freedoms in the 2005 Iraqi Constitution, the principles of conduct in the Iraqi Penal Code, and the limits of authority in the Law on Police Duties in Combating Crime. Additionally, intensive discussions were held regarding arrest procedures under the Criminal Proceedings Code and the conditions for filing a complaint according to the bylaws of the Federal Supreme Court.
National Team Meeting on the Rule of Law Strategy in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region Held
As part of the Strengthening the Rule of Law in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region project, implemented with financial support from Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), the National Team responsible for developing the National Strategy for Strengthening the Rule of Law and Consolidating Justice (2025–2029) held a dedicated meeting to discuss the mechanisms for implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the strategy.The meeting was held on 14 September 2026 at the Ministry of Justice in Baghdad, under the supervision and in the presence of Dr. Khalid Shwani, Minister of Justice and Chair of the National Team. The meeting was also attended by the First and Second Deputy Chairs of the Team, Dr. Burhan Mazhar Al-Qaisi, Deputy Minister of Justice for Administrative and Financial Affairs, and Ms. Shilan Arif, Deputy Minister of Justice in the Kurdistan Region, along with members of the team from the Kurdistan Region representing the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, Judicial Council, Ministry of Planning, and Kurdistan Region Integrity Commission, as well as a representative of the Investigator Organization.The main focus of the meeting was the final review of the Master Implementation Plan and the discussion of comments and recommendations submitted concerning the plan.The meeting commenced with an opening speech by the Minister of Justice, followed by presentations from both Deputy Chairs of the Team on the latest developments concerning the strategy, its implementation rate, and the anticipated steps for the coming years. Subsequently, the representative of the Investigator Organization presented a report on the project and its Implementation Plan for 2025–2029, which outlined the responsibilities, initiatives, and activities of each relevant entity during this period.During the meeting, emphasis was placed on the implementation of the National Strategy for Strengthening the Rule of Law as a roadmap for advancing rule-of-law practices in Iraq and consolidating the foundations of institutional work, in alignment with the government program, applicable laws, and relevant instructions.It was also highlighted that the strategy aims to strengthen the position of Iraq at the regional and international levels, while contributing to improving the quality of services provided to citizens and consolidating the principles of justice.
Knowledge & Research
Recent publications
Brief
Status of the Rule of Law in Iraq and KRI (Newsletter | Issue 1)
IOL & NPA · Apr 2026
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Brief
Status of the Rule of Law in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region – Newsletter, Issue 02
IOL & NPA · Apr 2026
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Report
Civil Society Report on the Implementation of Chapter II (Prevention) & Chapter V (Asset Recovery) of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption in Iraq
IOL & UNCAC & NDI · Aug 2025
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Report
Annual Report on Fair Trial Standards and Best Practices in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region
IOL & NPA & Maff Network · Mar 2025
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