Activities
Workshops, field programmes, legal-literacy campaigns, and advocacy initiatives across the Kurdistan Region.
- No matches
Annual General Assembly Meeting of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy
On 12 February 2022, the Annual General Assembly Meeting of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy was held at the Organization’s main office in Erbil. The meeting was attended by the Chairpersons and members of the Organization’s councils, the Board of Trustees, Board of Directors, and Advisory Board, where several issues related to the Organization’s activities and operations were reviewed and discussed. The meeting included an evaluation and review of the Organization’s work and projects implemented during the previous year, as well as discussions on future plans and preparations for the upcoming year. The participants also discussed and reviewed the Organization’s strategic work plan for the next four years. Following extensive discussions that lasted approximately three hours, the meeting concluded successfully with a number of recommendations addressed to the Board of Directors to prepare the required implementation steps before the next meeting, which is scheduled to be held in the middle of the following year.
Dr. Ahmed Miran Participates in a Panel Discussion on Migration, Its Dimensions, and Possible Solutions
On 5 February 2022, Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairperson of the Board of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, participated as a keynote panelist in a discussion organized by Pathway Organization, with the support of the Netherlands-based SPARK Organization, at the Ankawa Hotel Conference Hall in Erbil. The panel focused on the issue of migration, examining its various dimensions, underlying causes, and its legal, social, and economic implications. It also featured discussions on policy options and practical approaches to addressing the challenges associated with migration. During his intervention, Dr. Ahmed Miran presented the experience, findings, and key outcomes of the him recent project on migration and the smuggling of migrants. He emphasized the importance of evidence-based research, informed policymaking, and strengthened coordination and cooperation among relevant institutions to address the root causes of irregular migration and mitigate its impact on individuals and society.
Investigator Organization Representative Participates in a Public Hearing on the Draft Law on Combating Domestic Violence
On Monday, 31 January 2022, Judge Badraddin Barzinji, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, participated, on behalf of the Organization, in a public hearing organized by the Committee for the Protection of Women's Rights of the Kurdistan Parliament, in cooperation with the National Democratic Institute (NDI). The hearing aimed to gather the views and recommendations of legal experts, institutional representatives, and civil society organizations regarding the Draft Law on Combating Domestic Violence, with the objective of strengthening the draft legislation and ensuring its consistency with national legislation and international human rights standards. The participation of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy reflects its continued commitment to supporting legislative development, promoting the rule of law, and contributing to legal and judicial reform through the provision of specialized legal expertise and evidence-based recommendations that support the adoption of effective and rights-based legislation.
Investigator Organization Introduces the Draft Public Prosecution Law for the Kurdistan Region
On the morning of 26 January 2022, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), organized a special event to officially introduce the Draft Public Prosecution Law for the Kurdistan Region. The event was held as one of the concluding activities of the project for developing the draft law. The event brought together a distinguished group of judicial, legal, and public officials, including representatives of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, the Kurdistan Parliament, the Public Prosecution Authority, the Independent Human Rights Commission, the judiciary, the Non-Governmental Organizations Directorate, representatives of consulates, international organizations, and civil society organizations. The session was opened by Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairperson of the Board of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, who welcomed the participants and highlighted the Organization's role in developing legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the rule of law and advancing legal reform. Opening remarks were also delivered by Dr. Mona Qahwachi, Secretary of the Kurdistan Parliament; Judge Dr. Mohammed Rekani, Member of the Public Prosecution Authority; Dr. Mona Yaqo, Chairperson of the Independent Human Rights Commission; Judge Salim Hamo Diab, Representative of the Presidency of the Erbil Court of Appeal; and Mr. Aram Mohammed Amin, Director of Legal Affairs at the Non-Governmental Organizations Directorate. The speakers emphasized the significance of the initiative and commended the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy for its contribution to promoting the rule of law, protecting human rights, and strengthening democratic principles. During the technical session, Lawyer Peshawa Hussamaddin Abdullah, Project Manager, presented the stages and methodology followed in preparing the draft law. This was followed by a presentation from Dr. Ahmed Miran, highlighting the draft's key features, legislative innovations, and the principal differences between this draft and previously proposed versions. Participants, including members of the Public Prosecution Authority, legal experts, and senior legal advisors, also presented their observations and recommendations aimed at further strengthening the draft law. The event concluded with Judge Dr. Jawdat Saeed Mirsadiq, the principal drafter of the legislation, responding to participants' questions and comments, while emphasizing the importance of continued legal dialogue to develop a comprehensive and contemporary legal framework that enhances the effectiveness of the Public Prosecution Authority in the Kurdistan Region.
Investigator Organization Delegation Visits the President of the Kurdistan Region Judicial Council
On 8 September 2021, a delegation from the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, headed by Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairperson of the Board, and comprising Ms. Khawla Qarani, Deputy Chairperson of the Board, and Mr. Auder Anwar Karim, Head of Relations, paid a courtesy visit to Judge Abdul Jabbar Aziz Hassan, President of the Kurdistan Region Judicial Council, to congratulate him on assuming his new position. During the meeting both sides emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Judicial Council and civil society organizations, particularly those working in the fields of the rule of law and judicial reform, with the aim of supporting judicial independence and reinforcing public confidence in the justice system. The Organization's delegation presented a number of legal and institutional proposals, including the development of legislation addressing cybercrime, support for legal reform initiatives, strengthening the professional status and rights of judicial investigators, enhancing the institutional services of the Judicial Council, and improving the working environment within judicial investigation offices. The delegation also presented a copy of the Organization's legal study entitled “The Reality of the Judiciary in the Kurdistan Region – Iraq.” The President of the Judicial Council expressed his appreciation for the Organization's research efforts and emphasized the importance of continuing cooperation and the exchange of expertise and ideas in support of judicial development and the promotion of the rule of law.
Investigator Organization and WEO Organized Training Course to introduce the legal framework of women's rights
On 21 March 2020, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, in partnership with the Women Empowerment Organization (WEO) and with financial support from the Euro-Mediterranean Women's Foundation Initiative and the EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian Crisis (Madad Fund), organized a one-day training course under the project “Enhancing Access to Protection, Participation, and Services for Refugee, Internally Displaced, and Host Community Women in Iraq.” The training targeted a number of Civil society police officers from both the Federal Ministry of Interior of Iraq and the Ministry of Interior of the Kurdistan Region. It aimed to strengthen participants' understanding of the international conventions, national legislation, and legal instruments related to the protection and promotion of women's rights. The program opened with remarks by Ms. Suzan Arif, President of the Women Empowerment Organization, who presented an overview of the project's objectives and activities, while highlighting the role of women in society and the violations and crimes committed against women during both times of peace and armed conflict. Following that, Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Hussein delivered a presentation on legal responses to crimes against women, focusing on the mechanisms for addressing such cases within Iraq Generally, and Specially in Mosul. In the final session, Ms. Shahrazad Al-Abdali, as a trainer, delivered a presentation entitled “Rights Enforcement in Light of International Decisions, Conventions, and National Legislation on Women's Rights,” addressing the legal frameworks governing the protection of women's rights and their practical implementation.
Representatives of the Organization Participate in the Miri Forum
Dr. Ahmed Miran, President of the Board of Directors of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, Mr. Azad Waldbagi, Member of the Board of Trustees, and Mr. Peshawa Hussam Al-Din, Project Manager of the Organization, participated in the Meri Forum. The Meri Forum is one of the region's leading annual events, organized by the Meri Foundation. It brings together policymakers, academics, intellectuals, civil society leaders, and representatives of governmental and non-governmental institutions to exchange perspectives and discuss key national, political, governance, and regional issues, with a particular focus on Iraq, the Kurdistan Region, and the Middle East. This year's Forum was held on 4, 5, and 6 of this month (March 2020) at the Rotana Hotel in Erbil, attracting broad participation from political, academic, and civil society figures from Iraq and abroad.
Organization Holds a Legal Session on the Judicial Framework in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq
On the evening of 19 January 2020, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy organized a legal session dedicated to discussing the legal framework governing the judiciary in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. The session formed part of the Organization's ongoing efforts to promote judicial independence, strengthen the rule of law, and foster professional legal dialogue in line with national and international standards. During the session, Judge Rahim Al-Aqili delivered a comprehensive legal presentation on the constitutional and legislative framework governing the judiciary, outlining its current status while highlighting the fundamental principles of judicial independence and the principal institutional challenges facing the justice system. The session was attended by a considerable number of judicial investigators, lawyers, and legal professionals whose interventions and expert observations enriched the discussions. Public Prosecutor Bashdar Majid also contributed valuable legal remarks that further strengthened the substance and quality of the session. This session forms part of the ongoing activities implemented by the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy to support legal and institutional reform, reinforce the rule of law, and promote constructive professional dialogue among stakeholders in the justice sector.
Chairman of the Board Participates in a Meeting of the Directorate of Non-Governmental Organizations
On 15 January 2020, Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, participated in a meeting organized by the Directorate of Non-Governmental Organizations in Sulaymaniyah, with the participation of representatives from a number of civil society organizations. During the meeting, Dr. Miran delivered a legal presentation featuring a comparative analysis of the Law of the Bar Association, the Tax Law, and the Customs Law, highlighting the principal legal aspects as well as the key similarities and differences among these legislative frameworks. He also provided a legal interpretation and analytical overview of Non-Governmental Organizations Law No. (1) of 2011 and its implementing instructions, emphasizing the most significant legal provisions with the aim of promoting a consistent understanding of the legislative framework governing the work of non-governmental organizations. This participation forms part of the ongoing efforts of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy to strengthen legal awareness, enhance the institutional capacities of civil society organizations, and promote the principles of the rule of law.
Organization Representatives Participate in a Training Program on UPR Recommendations
On 22–23 December 2019, Judge Badraddin Barzanji, Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, together with Mr. Ali Abdulrahman and Mr. Ismail Mohammed Members of the Organization, participated in a specialized training program dedicated to discussing and reviewing the recommendations issued to Iraq under the Third Cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which were adopted in November 2019. The program was organized by the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), in cooperation with the Justice Network for Prisoners, and brought together representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, and a number of experts and specialists in the field of human rights. Over the course of the two-day program, participants engaged in extensive discussions on the content of the UPR recommendations, mechanisms for their implementation, the allocation of institutional responsibilities, and approaches to contributing to the development of the Kurdistan Regional Government's implementation plan. At the conclusion of the program, certificates of participation were awarded to all participants in recognition of their active engagement throughout the training program.
Organization Representatives Participate in a Consultation Session on the Draft Pension and Salary Reform Law in the Kurdistan Region
On 21 December 2019, a delegation from the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, comprising Judge Sayed Badraddin Karim Barzanji, Chairman of the Advisory Board, Mr. Awder Anwar, Director of the Human Resources Department, and Mr. Ali Abdulrahman, Director of the Media Department, participated in a special consultation session. The session, entitled "Consultation on the Draft Law on Pension and Salary Reform in the Kurdistan Region," was organized by PAW Organization and STOP Organization for civil society organizations, with the participation of several Members of the Kurdistan Parliament and a number of legal and public policy experts. The discussions focused on the draft law, examining its legal and financial implications while providing recommendations and proposals aimed at improving the legislative framework and ensuring that the proposed law is consistent with the principles of social justice and sound legislative reform.
First Roundtable Discussion Held as Part of the Project on Assessing the Judiciary System in the Kurdistan Region
With the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy launched a project entitled: "The Current State of the Judiciary in the Kurdistan Region: Existing Challenges and Pathways for Reform." On the morning of 14 December 2019, the Organization held the first roundtable discussion under the project, bringing together university academics, judicial investigators, lawyers, representatives of civil society organizations, and journalists with expertise in the field. The discussion examined Judicial Authority Law No. (23) of 2007 in the Kurdistan Region, focusing on the extent of its compatibility with internationally recognized standards governing judicial independence. Participants also reviewed the relevant constitutional provisions of the Constitution of the Republic of Iraq relating to the judiciary and discussed their legal implications. The session concluded with the formulation of a number of professional observations, expert recommendations, and technical comments that will contribute to the preparation of the project's final analytical study. It is worth noting that, in addition to Preparing a comprehensive analytical study on the judiciary, the project includes a series of roundtable discussions involving key influential stakeholders, with the objective of conducting a thorough assessment and developing practical, evidence-based recommendations to support judicial reform and strengthen the independence of the judiciary in the Kurdistan Region.