Activities
Workshops, field programmes, legal-literacy campaigns, and advocacy initiatives across the Kurdistan Region.
- No matches
Third Consultative Session Held to Discuss the Study on Laws and Institutions Addressing Corruption in the Kurdistan Region
Within the framework of the "Combating Corruption to Restore Trust in Iraq" project, implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law (IOL), with the support of UNDP, is preparing an analytical study entitled "Laws and Institutions Addressing Corruption in the Kurdistan Region – An Analytical Study." With the aim of enriching the study and gathering the views and perspectives of relevant stakeholders, the Investigator Organization held its third consultative session in Duhok on 10 September 2022. At the beginning of the session, Azad Abdulqadir Waladbagi, Project Manager, presented an overview of the project's implementation process and significance. Subsequently, the project's researcher, Dr. Mohammed Rekani, presented the various themes of the study, focusing on the laws and institutions in the Kurdistan Region concerned with combating corruption. The session was attended by a number of members of parliament, judges, members of the public prosecution, university professors, and directors and officials from relevant institutions, including the Board of Supreme Audit, investigation directorates affiliated with the Integrity Commission, tax directorates, the Independent Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, and media outlets. The session addressed a number of challenges and obstacles related to the laws and institutions in the Kurdistan Region responsible for combating corruption, while also presenting a range of diverse recommendations and perspectives aimed at improving the effectiveness of these laws and institutions and strengthening their role in combating corruption.
Chairman of the Investigator Organization Participates in a Consultative Meeting with U.S. Department of State Officials
On 8 September 2022, Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law (IOL), participated in a consultative meeting with Barbara A. Leaf, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, in the presence of Mr. Irvin Hicks, U.S. Consul General in Erbil. The meeting addressed the current political situation in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, as well as the situation of women and youth in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. It is worth noting that representatives of a number of other organizations from the Kurdistan Region also participated in the meeting.
Fourth Legal Awareness Training Course Conducted for Islamic Religious Leaders in the Garmian Independent Administration
Within the framework of the "Preventing Child Marriage Under the Age of 18" project, implemented by the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with the support of the Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP), the fourth legal awareness training course was conducted for 23 Islamic religious leaders in the Garmian Independent Administration. The course was attended by Mr. Sabah Mohammed Saleh, Director of the Garmian Endowment Directorate, and Sheikh Hama Amin Abdulqadir Hussein, Head of the Garmian Branch of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union. The course commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Awder Anwar Karim, Project Manager, who provided an overview of the project and its objectives. He also presented the program of ten legal awareness training courses being conducted for Islamic religious leaders across the governorates and independent administrations of the Kurdistan Region. Following this, Mr. Sabah Mohammed Saleh delivered remarks on behalf of the Garmian Endowment Directorate, emphasizing the importance of such courses in enhancing the legal awareness and cultural knowledge of Islamic religious leaders. Sheikh Hama Amin Abdulqadir Hussein also delivered remarks highlighting the importance of these courses in strengthening the knowledge and legal awareness of Islamic religious leaders, and proposed the continuation of similar training courses in other areas of Garmian. The legal session was subsequently delivered by Judge Badraddin Barzanji, who addressed a number of legal topics related to the objectives of the project. Following the lecture, an interactive discussion was held during which participants exchanged views, raised questions, and received responses to the issues discussed.
Second Consultative Session Held to Discuss the Study on Laws and Institutions Addressing Corruption in the Kurdistan Region
Within the framework of the "Combating Corruption to Restore Trust in Iraq" project, implemented with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Investigator Organization for the Rule of Law (IOL), with the support of UNDP, is preparing an analytical study entitled "Laws and Institutions Addressing Corruption in the Kurdistan Region – An Analytical Study." With the aim of enriching the study and gathering the views and perspectives of relevant stakeholders, the Investigator Organization held its second consultative session in Sulaymaniyah on 27 August 2022. At the beginning of the session, Azad Abdulqadir Waladbagi, Project Manager, presented an overview of the implementation process and significance of the project. Subsequently, the project's researcher, Dr. Mohammed Rekani, presented the various themes of the study, focusing on the laws and institutions in the Kurdistan Region concerned with combating corruption. The session was attended by a number of members of parliament, judges, public prosecution members, university professors, and representatives of relevant institutions, including the Board of Supreme Audit, investigation directorates affiliated with the Integrity Commission, tax directorates, the Independent Human Rights Commission, civil society organizations, and media outlets. The session addressed a number of challenges and obstacles related to the laws and institutions responsible for combating corruption in the Kurdistan Region, while also presenting a range of diverse recommendations and perspectives aimed at strengthening the role and effectiveness of these laws and institutions.
Second Legal Awareness Training Course Conducted for Islamic Religious Leaders in the Soran Independent Administration
Within the framework of the "Preventing Child Marriage Under the Age of 18" project, implemented by the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with the support of the Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP), the second legal awareness training course was conducted for 23 Islamic religious leaders from the Soran Independent Administration. The event was attended by Dr. Pshtiwan Sreshmayi, Director of the Soran Endowment Directorate, and Mulla Rasul Gaznaye, Administrative Officer of the Soran Branch of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union. The program commenced with opening remarks by Mr. Awder Anwar Karim, Project Manager, who presented an overview of the project and outlined the series of ten legal awareness training courses being implemented for Islamic religious leaders across the governorates and independent administrations of the Kurdistan Region. Following this, Dr. Pshtiwan Sreshmayi delivered the remarks of the Soran Endowment Directorate, emphasizing the importance of such training programs in enhancing the legal awareness of religious leaders and strengthening their role in promoting legal culture within society. Mulla Rasul Gaznaye then delivered the remarks of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union, highlighting the value of these training programs in improving the legal knowledge of religious leaders and recommending that similar courses continue to be organized throughout the different areas of the Soran Independent Administration. The training session was subsequently delivered by Judge Badraddin Barzanji, who addressed a number of legal topics related to the objectives of the project. The session concluded with an interactive discussion during which participants exchanged views, raised questions, and received comprehensive legal responses.
Consultative Dialogue Session on the Draft Code of Conduct for Lawyers in the Kurdistan Region
As part of the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Kurdistan Lawyers Syndicate and the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), and within the framework of the Code of Conduct for Lawyers in the Kurdistan Region Project, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), in coordination with the Kurdistan Lawyers Syndicate, organized a specialized consultative dialogue session to review the draft Code of Conduct and gather the views and recommendations of legal experts and practitioners. The session was attended by Mr. Bakhtiar Haider, President of the Kurdistan Lawyers Syndicate, and Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL). The meeting commenced with welcoming remarks delivered by Peshawa Hussam Al-Din, Legal Advisor and Project Manager, who presented an overview of the project's objectives, scope, and implementation stages. This was followed by remarks from Mr. Bakhtiar Haider in his capacity as President of the Kurdistan Lawyers Syndicate. Participants then proceeded to review the draft Code of Conduct article by article. Comments, observations, and recommendations submitted by the participating lawyers were discussed in detail to enhance and further refine the draft. It is worth noting that the session brought together a significant number of experienced legal practitioners and experts from across the Kurdistan Region, whose contributions played an important role in strengthening and enriching the draft Code of Conduct.
Opening of the Judicial Investigation Office at the Duhok Institute of Forensic Medicine
Within the framework of the "Review of Mandatory Forensic Medical Reports" project, the Judicial Investigation Office at the Duhok Institute of Forensic Medicine was officially inaugurated on the morning of 9 August 2022. The opening ceremony was attended by Lionel LAFORGUE, Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in the Kurdistan Region; Judge Ramadhan Mohammed, Deputy Chief Judge of the Duhok Court of Appeal; Dr. Afrasyab, Director General of Health in Duhok; Dr. Nawzad Mohammed, Director of the Duhok Institute of Forensic Medicine; Raid Waleed, Representative of the Duhok Police Directorate; together with Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), Ali Abdulrahman, Project Manager, and Hakar Amedi, Project Coordinator. The inauguration was held in an official ceremony attended by representatives of several media outlets. The office aims to streamline procedures, facilitate services for citizens, and strengthen access to timely and effective justice. The "Review of Mandatory Forensic Medical Reports" project is being implemented by the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL) 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. During the implementation period, all necessary equipment and operational requirements were provided for the Judicial Investigation Offices at the Institutes of Forensic Medicine in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok. Through close cooperation with the Kurdistan Judicial Council, the Courts of Appeal of Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok, the Ministry of Health, and the departments of the Institutes of Forensic Medicine. The project includes the standardization of investigation forms relating to homicide victims and suspicious deaths, as well as forensic examination forms for sexual violence cases. It is worth noting that, pursuant to Order No. (881) issued by the Kurdistan Judicial Council on 28 March 2022, these Judicial Investigation Offices were officially established in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, and Duhok within the framework of this project. From now on, the Judicial Investigation Offices will be responsible for receiving requests and investigation forms related to deceased persons, as well as forensic examination reports concerning sexual assault cases. Police stations will also receive their official reports directly from these offices.
Visit of the Investigator Organization Delegation to the Integrity Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament
A delegation from the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy (IOL), consisting of Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Azad Abdulqadir Waladbegi, Member of the Advisory Council, and Parosh Farhad Qadir, Member of the Administration Department, visited the Integrity Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament, where they were warmly received by the Chairperson and members of the Committee. During the meeting, in addition to presenting an overview of the activities and achievements of the Investigator Organization over the past years, the delegation highlighted the Organization’s latest project entitled “Law and Institutions in Confronting Corruption – An Analytical Study.” The project is being implemented by the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy (IOL) with financial support from UNDP over a period of five months. For their part, the Chairperson and members of the Integrity Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament presented an overview of the Committee’s mandate and activities. They also highly commended the work and achievements of the Investigator Organization, expressed their full support for the project, and affirmed their readiness to provide any necessary cooperation within the framework of its implementation.
First Consultative Meeting Held under the “Combating Corruption to Restore Trust in Iraq” Project
Within the framework of the “Combating Corruption to Restore Trust in Iraq” project, implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), with the support of UNDP, is preparing an analytical study entitled “Law and Institutions in Confronting Corruption – An Analytical Study.” The project is being implemented over a period of five months, from 1 July 2022 to 30 November 2022. As part of the project's activities, and with the aim of strengthening the study through broad stakeholder engagement, three consultative meetings will be held to gather the views and recommendations of relevant stakeholders regarding anti-corruption mechanisms in the Kurdistan Region. The first consultative meeting was held on 6 August 2022 in Erbil, with the participation of representatives from a number of governmental and legal institutions, academics, civil society organizations, and media representatives. Participants included representatives of the Integrity Committee of the Kurdistan Parliament, the Integrity Commission, The judges, the Independent Human Rights Commission, the Board of Supreme Audit, the General Directorate of Taxes, the Anti-Money Laundering Unit at the Ministry of Interior, and the Kurdistan Jurists Union. Upon completion of the project, the study will be officially launched and published in printed form during a special conference, where it will be made available to the public and relevant stakeholders with the aim of supporting national dialogue and providing practical recommendations to strengthen anti-corruption efforts and reinforce the rule of law.
Visit and congratulations to the President and Deputy Presidents of the Erbil Court of Appeal
On the morning of 2 August 2022, Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy, together with Peshawa Hossam Al-Din, Deputy Chairman of the Board, and Awder Anwar, Head of Relations of the Organization, visited Judge Fakher Saber Bayez, President of the Erbil Investigation Court, as well as Judge Gailan Khalid Mustafa and Judge Nigar Ahmed Agha, Deputy Presidents of the Court, to congratulate them on assuming their new positions and responsibilities and to wish them continued success in carrying out their duties. In return, the distinguished judges expressed their appreciation to the delegation of the Investigator Organization, emphasizing the importance of the Organization's presence and its constructive role in supporting the rule of law and promoting justice. They also highly commended the Organization's achievements and activities since its establishment. During the meeting, several current issues related to the work of the courts and ways to further improve services provided to citizens were discussed. It was also agreed that the proposals and recommendations presented during the meeting would serve as the foundation for an important project to be developed by the Investigator Organization, which will be submitted to the Presidency of the Erbil Investigation Court upon completion. The participants also discussed the challenges facing judicial investigators, agreeing that there is a shortage in their numbers and that their increasing workload should be duly considered. In this regard, it is expected that, in the near future, a significant number of Assistant Judicial Investigators will be redesignated them title as Judicial Investigators in order to address the shortage of investigators within the investigation courts. It is worth noting that Judge Nigar Ahmed Agha is the first female judge in the Kurdistan Region to assume this senior judicial position, reflecting her professional competence and merit. At the conclusion of the visit, the delegation of the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy once again expressed its sincere appreciation for the warm reception and wished the distinguished judges continued success in fulfilling their responsibilities.
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.
Visit of a Delegation from the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy to the Director General of the Diwan of the Ministry of Interior
A delegation from the Investigator Organization for Supporting the Rule of Law and Democracy, headed by Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Amin Abdulrahman, Chairman of the Organization’s Board of Directors, and comprising Peshawa Husamaddin, Deputy Chairman of the Board; Hakar Saeed, Financial Officer; and Awdir Anwar, the Organization’s Relations Officer, visited Dr. Hemn Merany Director General of the Diwan of the Ministry of Interior. The visit was aimed at extending congratulations to Dr. Hemn Merany on the occasion of assuming his duties as Director General of the Diwan of the Ministry of Interior. During the meeting, a number of important issues and areas were discussed that require serious attention and work in the coming period. Among the key topics was cooperation on a number of current and important projects that can contribute to serving the needs of Kurdish society. It is worth noting that Dr. Hemn Merany listened to the proposals and views presented, and the meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss mutual understanding and dialogue regarding the issues under consideration. The meeting concluded with discussions on reform, development, and strengthening the work and capacities of police and judicial institutions, with the aim of further enhancing their performance and capabilities and improving the services they provide to society.