International Day of Peace

As part of the activities of the Prisoners’ Justice Network, and with the support of the Norwegian People’s Aid (NAP), the Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law (IOL) organized an evening session titled “International Day of Peace and the Future of Alternative Sentencing Law.”

As a yearly tradition on September 21, the organization celebrated the International Day of Peace with an evening event that showcased several unique paintings created by talented individuals. These artists expressed the meanings of the International Day of Peace and human rights through their works. This year’s artworks also highlighted the issue of the Alternative Sentencing Law, a project prepared by the Prisoners’ Justice Network (JNP), aiming to garner more support and strengthen efforts for the law’s adoption in the Kurdistan Region. It is expected that the draft law will be presented to parliament in its upcoming session.

The session began with a welcoming speech from IOL delivered by Mr. (Pishwa Hussammadin), CEO deputy of the organization. In his speech, he welcomed the attendees and outlined the agenda of the event and the importance of the topic. Following this, Judge (Nader Abdulaziz Herki), President of the Erbil Criminal Court/1, spoke on behalf of the President of the Erbil Appellate Court, expressing his support for the project. Mr. (Falah Mustafa), Head of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Department, then delivered a speech about the crucial role of NGOs, where he thanked the Investigator Organization for its efforts. Mr. (Shwan Saber), President of the Prisoners’ Justice Network, presented an overview of the history and benefits of the alternative sentencing idea, while Dr. (Dler Saber) explained the content of the law’s draft. Participants were then given the opportunity to engage in discussions and share their views.

The event was attended by several legal experts, including judges, parliamentary advisors, representatives of the presidency, university professors, judicial investigators, lawyers, senior police officers, representatives from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq, and representatives of institutions from the Kurdistan Regional Government. Additionally, many organizations and journalists were present.

The event concluded with a group photo of the participants.