Opening of the Judicial Investigation Office at the Sulaymaniyah Institute of Forensic Medicine

Within the framework of the “Review of Mandatory Forensic Medical Reports” project, and on 25 July 2022, the Judicial Investigation Office at the Sulaymaniyah Institute of Forensic Medicine was officially opened in the presence of Lionel LAFORGUE, Head of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Kurdistan; Azhi Amin, Head of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Section at UNFPA; Judge Kamiran Nashaat, Deputy President of the Sulaymaniyah Court of Appeal; Judge Dr. Awat Haji, Investigative Judge at the Sulaymaniyah Security Directorate; Dr. Hersh Salim, Deputy Director General of Sulaymaniyah Health; Dr. Barzan Dartash, Director of the Sulaymaniyah Institute of Forensic Medicine; Dr. Sabah Nasraddin, Director of the Sulaymaniyah Health Directorate; Dr. Shler Faeq, Director of the Maternity Hospital; and Captain Sarkawt Ahmed Mohammed, Director of Media and Public Relations at the Sulaymaniyah Police. The event was also attended by Ali Abdulrahman, Project Manager; Hakar Amedi, Project Coordinator and Coordinator of the work and affairs of the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy in Sulaymaniyah Governorate; Nisar Kamal, Judicial Investigator at the Judicial Investigation Office in Sulaymaniyah; and Yadgar Jalal, Member of the Organization’s Board of Trustees.
The opening of the office aims to facilitate and organize work procedures, expedite the processing of citizens’ affairs, and enhance access to swift and effective justice.
furthermore, the “Review of Mandatory Forensic Medical Reports” project, implemented by the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with financial support from the Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP) over a period of four months, included the provision of all necessary requirements for the Judicial Investigation Offices at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok.
Within the framework of this project, and in cooperation with the Judicial Council, the Courts of Appeal in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, the Ministry of Health, and the directorates of the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, the Investigator Organization successfully implemented this initiative.
The outcome of the project included facilitating the organization of examination forms for suspects in murder cases or Suspicious Deaths, as well as examinations conducted in cases of sexual violence, to be carried out within the framework of these offices. It is worth noting that, pursuant to Kurdistan Region Judicial Council Decision No. (881), issued on 28 March 2022, the establishment and activation of these offices in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok were approved.
Furthermore, from now on, requests related to deceased-person examination forms and examination records concerning sexual assault (rape) cases shall fall under the responsibility and jurisdiction of the Judicial Investigation Offices, while police stations shall receive their reports directly from these offices.