UN praises KRG for human rights protection plan against torture
This commendation came during her meeting with the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy, Dindar Zebari, on Tuesday.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Alice Edwards, praised the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) for implementing a human rights protection plan that aligns with international standards and focuses on reducing torture.
This commendation came during her meeting with the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy, Dindar Zebari, on Tuesday.
Today on June 11, I had a productive meeting with @DrAliceJEdwards, @UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, to discuss the legislative, executive, and judiciary measures the KRG is taking to comprehensively combat and eradicate torture, inhumane treatment, and mistreatment. pic.twitter.com/oUVVn5o3az
— Dr. Dindar Zebari (@KRG_Coordinator) June 11, 2024
During the meeting, both parties discussed the judiciary measures taken by the KRG to comprehensively combat and eliminate torture, inhuman treatment, and ill-treatment. Zebari stated, “In 2023, three files on torture were sent to the Women and Juvenile Correctional Investigation Court in Erbil, one in Raparin, and 28 cases in Sulaimani, totaling 32 cases.”
He further highlighted the legislative efforts against torture, noting, “On March 1, 2023, the Kurdistan Region’s Parliament discussed the first reading of the draft law against torture and ill-treatment and protecting the rights of prisoners. From January 2023 to June 2023, the Public Prosecutor investigated cases for 826 convicts, and the Crimes and Juveniles Department investigated 1,090 cases during 2023 alone.”
Zebari emphasized the KRG's commitment to providing fair compensation to detainees proven to have been subjected to torture under Law No. 15 of 2010.
He also mentioned that the Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy has issued specific procedures to implement international recommendations on combating torture within the KRG’s human rights plan.
UN Special Rapporteur Alice Edwards acknowledged the challenges of eliminating torture in Iraq, given the country's instability since 2003 and the subsequent ISIS attacks.
She stressed the need for coordinated efforts to eradicate torture and praised the KRG for its human rights protection plan, which focuses on reducing torture in accordance with international standards.