Activities
Workshops, field programmes, legal-literacy campaigns, and advocacy initiatives across the Kurdistan Region.
Conference on Reducing and Preventing Early Marriage
The IOL, Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, in partnership with the UNFPA, United Nations Population Fund, and with financial support from the RDPP, Regional Development and Protection Program, organized the conference “Reducing and Preventing Early Marriage” in parallel with the 16 Days of Activism Campaign to Combat Violence against Women The conference was attended by representatives of relevant official authorities, members of parliament, and international and local organizations. At the beginning of the conference, the draft proposal to amend Personal Status Law No. (188) of 1959, as amended in the Kurdistan Region by Law No. (15) of 2008, prepared by the IOL, Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, was presented. Official data on marriage contracts registered in the courts during 2021 was also presented, including marriage contracts in which one of them was under the age of 18. The conference included three discussion panels addressing mechanisms and approaches for reducing and preventing the phenomenon of early marriage and examining its various dimensions. The discussions also focused on ways to support the adoption and passage of the proposed draft amendments to the Personal Status Law, particularly the provisions related to early marriage.
Legal Awareness Course for Civil Society Activists on the Rights of the Accused During Investigation and Trial
On the morning of Saturday, 10 December 2022, the IOL, Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, organized a legal awareness course for civil society activists on the Rights of the Accused During Investigation and Trial. The course was held within the framework of the project “Enhancing the Rule of Law and Increasing Youth and Women’s Participation in Decision-Making Processes in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” in partnership with NPA, Norwegian People’s Aid. The course was held in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, with the participation of 21 civil society activists from across Iraq.
Conference Held to Present the Initial Findings of a Study on the Position of Women and Youth in Decision-Making Centers within Professional Syndicates and Unions
Within the framework of the project “Strengthening the Rule of Law and the Effective Participation of Women and Youth in Decision-Making Centers within Professional Syndicates and Unions,” implemented by the IOL, Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy, with financial support from NPA, Norwegian People's Aid, under the NORAD project for 2022, IOL organized a conference on the evening of Tuesday, 29 November 2022, with the participation of relevant stakeholders from women's unions and associations, representatives of professional syndicates and unions, civil society organizations, and representatives of the High Council for Women and Development, the NGO Affairs Department, and the General Directorate for Combating Domestic Violence. The conference aimed to present the initial findings of the study “The Position of Women and Youth in Decision-Making Centers within Professional Syndicates and Unions,” prepared by Ms. Lana Sheikha, a graduate in Political Science, under the supervision of a number of academics at the IOL, Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy. Following the welcoming remarks, the researcher presented the content of the study and the methodology used in its preparation, which took more than two months. She also presented the main challenges, findings, and recommendations of the study, with the aim of receiving the participants’ views, observations, and suggestions to enrich the study and support its final review. Following more than an hour of discussion and the exchange of comments, criticism, views, and recommendations, the conference concluded successfully and achieved its objectives. Work on the study is expected to continue until the end of the year, after which it will be published in printed book form.
Training Course for Civil Society Activists on the International, Legal, and Constitutional Rights of Activists
On the morning of Saturday, 5 November 2022, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), within the framework of the project “Enhancing the Rule of Law and Increasing Youth and Women’s Participation in Decision-Making in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq,” and in partnership with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), conducted a training course for civil society activists on the international, legal, and constitutional rights of activists during the investigation and trial stages. The training course was held in Erbil with the participation of 22 civil society activists from across the Kurdistan Region. The course addressed issues related to the international, legal, and constitutional rights of activists during the investigation and trial stages. It is worth noting that the same training course, under the same title and with the same content, will be held in December 2022 in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
Iraq Director Meets with Civil Society Organization Representatives
On 2 November 2022, Steve Bitner, Iraq Director at the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, met with Peshawa Hisamadeen of the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy and Farman Rasheed of STOP Organization. The meeting focused on discussing the important efforts and activities undertaken by civil society organizations to combat corruption and advance the rule of law in the Kurdistan Region.
Special Meeting with STOP Organization
On the evening of 31 October 2022, a special meeting was held between the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy and STOP Organization. The meeting was attended by Dr. Ahmed Miran, Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Peshawa Hussamaddin, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. They were welcomed by Ari Mohammed and Ferman Rashad from STOP Organization. The meeting featured a productive exchange of views and constructive discussions, during which several ideas and proposals for future joint projects and cooperation programs between the two organizations were presented and discussed.
Second Day of the Legal Forum Brings Together Legal Institutions with Representatives of Youth and Women’s Organizations
On 29 October 2022, the second day of the legal forum was held with the participation of representatives of the non-governmental legal institutions that had participated on the first day, together with representatives of youth and women’s organizations, with the aim of establishing a joint and interactive dialogue among them. Representatives of the following organizations participated in the second day: • Emma Organization • Aland Organization for the Democratization of Youth • PAO Organization • Network for Combating Trafficking in Women • STOP Organization • Love and Peace Organization • South Youth Organization • Human Line Foundation • Iraqi Women Journalists Forum • Asuda Organization The session brought together a group of women and young people with expertise in various fields, in addition to a representative of the Ministry of Culture and Youth of the Kurdistan Region. The discussion focused on the main challenges and obstacles facing young people and women in accessing decision-making positions, as well as possible solutions to remove these barriers, including political bias, age, gender, and other challenges. The dialogue between the representatives of the aforementioned institutions and representatives of youth and women took place at a high level of professionalism, openness, and transparency, contributing to the successful conclusion of the session.
Legal Forum Held at the National Level in Erbil
On Friday, 28 October 2022, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL), with the support of Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), held a legal forum at the national level in Erbil. For the first time, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy successfully brought together representatives of professional syndicates and unions specializing in the legal field, along with a number of prominent legal figures, in a legal forum held in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, to discuss various aspects of the rule of law. During the forum, legal papers were presented by representatives of a number of non-governmental organizations and relevant institutions, including: • Iraqi Bar Association • Kurdistan Bar Association • Iraqi Jurists Union • Kurdistan Jurists Union • Iraqi Association of Judicial Investigators • Kurdistan Parliamentarians Union • Legal Research Center at the Ministry of Justice • Institute of Legal Development in the Kurdistan Region The forum also brought together a number of prominent legal figures, including: • Retired Judge Salem Rawdan Al-Mousawi • Dr. Mahmoud Azo • Dr. Ahmed Miran • Dr. Dler Sabir The legal forum was one of the activities implemented under the NORAD Project, supported by Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) and implemented by the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL). The project aims to strengthen and consolidate the rule of law, contribute to legal and judicial reform, and highlight the need to develop a strategy for consolidating and strengthening the rule of law in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
Investigator Organization Holds Conference to Launch Study on Laws and Institutions in Combating Corruption
On 24 October 2022, within the framework of the project “Combating Corruption to Restore Trust in Iraq,” supported by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL) held a conference in Erbil, at the Van Royal Hotel, to launch its study entitled “Laws and Institutions in Combating Corruption in the Kurdistan Region–Iraq: An Analytical Study.” The conference marked the final stage of the project. The conference was attended by 58 participants representing a wide range of institutions and organizations, including the President of the Integrity Commission, the Deputy Minister of Justice, a representative of UNDP, a representative of the President of the Independent Human Rights Commission, a representative of the President of the Department of Non-Governmental Organizations, members of Parliament, judges, members of the Public Prosecution, a representative of the German Consulate in Erbil, advisers to the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region and the Kurdistan Parliament, directors general of relevant government institutions, university professors, judicial investigators and investigators from the Integrity Commission, lawyers, civil society activists, and media representatives.
Legal Awareness Sessions Held for Religious Scholars in Sulaymaniyah and Koya
Legal awareness sessions for respected Islamic religious scholars were held in Sulaymaniyah and Koya on Friday and Saturday, 21–22 October 2022. According to official data published by the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq, 1,498 divorce cases were recorded in Iraq in 2020 in which the woman was under the age of 15. In 2021, this figure increased to 2,594 cases, representing a significantly high number. Following divorce, these children may face a range of psychological and social challenges. In recognition of its responsibility in this area, the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy is implementing the project “Preventing Underage Marriage in the Kurdistan Region – Iraq”, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and with financial support from the Regional Development and Protection Program (RDPP). These activities form part of the Organization’s efforts to raise legal and social awareness, prevent underage marriage, and address its negative consequences for children.
Sixth and Seventh Legal Awareness-Raising Sessions Held for Islamic Religious Leaders in Duhok and Zakho
With the aim of preventing early marriage, and within the framework of the project “Preventing Marriage Under the Age of 18 in the Kurdistan Region,” 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 sixth and seventh legal awareness-raising sessions were held for more than 50 Islamic religious scholars from Duhok and the Zakho Independent Administration. The sessions were attended by the Directors of Endowment Affairs in Duhok and Zakho, as well as the representatives of the Duhok and Zakho branches of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union. During the sessions, welcome remarks, an overview of the project, and an introduction to the 10 legal awareness-raising sessions being conducted for Islamic religious scholars across the governorates and independent administrations of the Kurdistan Region were presented by the Project Manager, Mr. Awder Anwar Karim. The sessions also highlighted the important role and impact of such awareness-raising activities in contributing to the reduction of child marriage rates in the Kurdistan Region.
IOL Conducts a Three-Day Proposal Development Training for Its Staff
With the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), and within the framework of the project “Laws and Institutions in Combating Corruption,” the Investigator Organization for supporting role of law and Democracy (IOL) conducted a three-day training course from 8–10 October 2022 with the aim of building and strengthening the capacities of the Organization's staff. The training was held under the title “Proposal Development Training” and was delivered by the experienced trainer Mr. Ribwar Reza, with the participation of 16 staff members and employees of the Organization. At the conclusion of the training, certificates of participation were awarded to the participants.