Human rights conference highlights KRG’s progress in reform, social justice

Dec. 3, 2024

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – On Tuesday, the Kurdistan Region’s Coordinator for International Advocacy office organized a special conference commemorating the 76th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

Dr. Dindar Zebari, the KRG’s Coordinator for International Advocacy, delivered a speech at the conference and reiterated the KRG’s ninth cabinet noticeable steps to improve the welfare of the citizens, confront corruption, and spread reform across the government and public sectors.

In his speech, Zebari stated that “the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the first international document defining fundamental human rights which has served as a foundation for protecting rights and freedom.”

As Zebari highlighted, the ninth cabinet of Kurdistan Region’s government, “under the guidance and leadership of Prime Minister Masrour Barzani, has taken significant steps to enhance citizens' living standards and conditions, deal with long-standing challenges, safeguard and protect the rights of all citizens, and battle corruption through reforms.”

He also indicated that ever since the start of the ninth cabinet, the government raised the “banner of reform” which led to the Reform Law No. (2) of 2020, addressing important aspects such as salaries, allowances, bonuses, privileges, and pensions in the Kurdistan Region.

The law, according to Zebari, was also helpful in addressing fair distribution of public wealth.

Furthermore, the KRG Coordinator for International Advocacy, provided facts and data that showcased the KRG’s continued effort to battle corruption, disclosing that “in 2023, 140 cases of corruption were registered. Of this number, 48 cases were resolved and 31 returned to the court for further investigation.”

As disclosed by Dr. Dindar Zebari, “the total number of convicts in Kurdistan Region courts in 2023 was 89 individuals from various ranks and positions.”

He also revealed that in the years 2022 and 2023, more than 275 million dollars in unnecessary expenses were reduced through the implementation of the Kurdistan Region’s financial management system.”

In addition, Dr. Zebari specified that KRG’s Integrity Commission prepared its first report regarding the assessment of the implementation of the National Strategy for Combatting Corruption in the Kurdistan Region on March 13, 2024.

Moreover, Dr. Dinanr Zebari underlined the Kurdistan Region’s continuous efforts in the elimination of domestic violence.

He revealed that in 2023 and leading up to the beginning of 2024, there had been 18,620 cases of registered domestic violence cases in the Kurdistan Region, of which 10,897 cases were successfully resolved.

“Additionally, 313 cases of early marriages and 8 cases of gender-related discrimination have been investigated, and suitable legal actions have been taken in response to them,” he mentioned.

Zebari revealed that there are currently 5 shelters for the women who have faced threats, which have housed 91 women. Of this number 21 are of foreign nationalities.

“The Regional Government places great importance on women's participation in authority, particularly in the judiciary - out of (270) judges, (69) are women, and out of (205) public prosecutors, (58) are women, in addition to (189) judicial investigators,” Dr. Dindar Zebari added.

Below you can read the full text of Dr. Dindar Zebar, the KRG’s Coordinator for International Advocacy, speech:

Honorable Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region Mr. Masrour Barzani

Respected Chief of the Judicial Council, Head of the Regional Presidency Office, Deputy Speaker of Parliament (Fifth Term), Honorable Ministers, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice and Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Federal Government, Governors, Members of Parliament, Political Parties, Independent Bodies, Diplomats, Representatives of UN Agencies and Local and International Organizations, Unions

Good day and welcome...

We are pleased to gather today to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which is the first international document defining fundamental human rights and serves as a foundation for rights and freedoms benefiting humanity as a whole. In this conference, we will highlight the notable progress that the Kurdistan Regional Government has achieved in protecting and advancing these rights, reflecting our vision for a just society where all individuals are protected equally regardless of nationality, religion, or sect.

The ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government, under the leadership of Honorable Masrour Barzani, has taken significant steps to improve citizens' living conditions, address long-term challenges, ensure the protection of everyone's rights, and combat corruption through reforms.

On September 15, 2021, the Council of Ministers' Presidency approved the Regional Government's Human Rights Plan (2021-2025), indicating the importance given to this file and the implementation of international recommendations directed to the Region within the framework of the Republic of Iraq, aimed at harmonizing existing laws with international conventions and treaties, and as part of the ninth cabinet's reform process. This plan was carefully drafted, incorporating input from the judicial authorities, Regional Presidency, Parliament Presidency, United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), civil society, NGOs and agencies, diplomatic missions in the Region, and the National Committee for Writing Reports on Iraq's Ratified Conventions in the Federal Government, for which we extend our gratitude.

It is pleasing to note that many of the recommendations included in this plan have been implemented in recent years, through laws, regulations, and practical steps in the Kurdistan Region, particularly in areas such as the law for protecting minority rights, the law against domestic violence, the law for protecting children's rights, the press law, and several other laws.

According to the implementation process of the plan, by May 2024, implemented recommendations increased to (171) while unimplemented recommendations decreased to (127), and recommendations in the implementation phase reached (102). The implementation rates have changed as follows: implemented recommendations (42.8%), those in the implementation phase (25.5%), thus showing progress in the plan's execution.

The ninth cabinet, upon taking office, raised the banner of reform with the issuance of Reform Law No. (2) of 2020 to address salaries, allowances, bonuses, privileges, and pensions in the Kurdistan Region, as well as the fair distribution of public wealth.

In 2023, (140) corruption cases were registered, among which (48) cases were resolved and (31) were returned to court. The total number of convicts in Kurdistan Region courts in 2023 was (89) individuals from various ranks and positions. In 2022 and 2023, approximately (275) million dollars in unnecessary expenses were reduced through the implementation of the Kurdistan Region's financial management system. Additionally, on 13/3/2024, the Region's Integrity Commission prepared its first report regarding the assessment of implementation levels of the (National Strategy for Combating Corruption in Kurdistan Region), which entered into implementation phase in September of this year.

Regarding the combat against torture, which is a crucial human rights issue, on 01-03-2024, the Kurdistan Parliament conducted the first reading of the proposed law on combating torture and ill-treatment. In 2023, (32) cases were referred to judicial authorities and (5) cases concerning journalist torture were registered, while (31) individuals were convicted of using violence.

In the government's efforts to eliminate human trafficking in the region, (8) offices and shelters dedicated to human trafficking victims have been opened, and in 2023, (294) cases were registered. Special teams visited (196) companies, (13) companies were referred to court, (2500) foreigners were interviewed, and (38) foreigners were arrested for illegal immigration.

Honorable attendees...

Regarding the elimination of domestic violence, (18,620) cases have been registered by the public prosecutor until the beginning of this year, of which (10,897) cases have been resolved. Additionally, (313) cases of early marriage and (8) cases related to gender discrimination have been investigated with necessary legal measures taken. There are (5) shelters for threatened women, currently housing (91) women, of whom (21) are foreigners. The Regional Government places great importance on women's participation in authority, particularly in the judiciary - out of (270) judges, (69) are women, and out of (205) public prosecutors, (58) are women, in addition to (189) judicial investigators.

One of the major challenges facing the Regional Government has been the influx of displaced persons and refugees at a time when the Kurdistan Region was going through a difficult economic phase. Currently, the Kurdistan Region hosts (1,009,788) displaced persons and refugees, with (30%) living in camps and (70%) living outside camps. At present, the Regional Government provides the majority of their needs and has adopted a policy of voluntary return for displaced persons and refugees.

In this regard, the Regional Government, in cooperation with UNHCR, has issued guidelines for organizing asylum procedures aimed at protecting refugee rights and defining their obligations.

The education sector is one of the areas that has received significant attention in the past four years. In this regard, (89) new schools have been built and (1,300) schools across the Kurdistan Region have been renovated. Furthermore, through the return-to-education program, this year (6,887) students were able to return to education, adding to (26,384) from previous years, totaling (33,271) students.

For the purpose of recognizing ISIS crimes as genocide and prosecuting terrorists, in coordination with the United Nations Investigative Team to Promote Accountability for Crimes Committed by Da'esh (UNITAD), more than (42) thousand files, amounting to (408,540) pages of ISIS crime documentation, have been digitally documented.

"Upon completion of UNITAD's mission, documents were transferred to the Regional Government in two phases: in the first phase, (45.95) gigabytes and in the second phase, (11.9) gigabytes of encrypted documents and information. Moreover, the Regional Government has continued its efforts to rescue kidnapped individuals; out of (6,417) kidnapped persons, more than (3,579) have been rescued. Additionally, by decision of the Honorable Prime Minister of the Regional Government, financial assistance is being distributed to more than 3,500 Yazidi citizens who survived ISIS, and this process continues.

Distinguished attendees...

Environmental protection is another area that has received attention from the ninth cabinet. Between 2022-2024, (12) regulations and (1) decision were issued by the Environmental Protection and Improvement Board for environmental protection. In 2023, (2,851) projects were approved, and a strategic plan (2022-2030) was established specifically for forest protection. In 2022, (66) environmental monitors were appointed in the private sector, and by 2023 this number reached (217) individuals. For environmental violations, (2,714) various cases were referred to court.

In the labor sector and protection of workers' rights during the ninth cabinet of the Kurdistan Regional Government, there are (34) active committees, and a market committee was established for the first time. The number of secured projects in the past (3) years increased from (28,000) to (52,000) projects, while the number of secured workers increased from (84,000) to more than (190,000), and approximately (100) thousand direct job opportunities were created. Additionally, the annual income of the pension and security fund increased from about (42) billion dinars to more than (1) trillion dinars, and the number of retired workers increased from (726) to (1,000) workers.

Combating narcotics, punishing traffickers, and rehabilitating addicts who are victims of this epidemic is a very important matter for the Kurdistan Regional Government. For this purpose, on 26/11/2024, the Honorable Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region laid the foundation stone for the Awareness and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Addicts in Erbil, which is being established by the Barzani Charity Organization and the American LDS organization. The Kurdistan Region's security agencies continue their campaign to arrest traffickers to counter this dangerous phenomenon. According to statistics, the number of convicts and detainees in the region has risen to (5,249) individuals. Furthermore, the topic of drug harm has been incorporated into educational curricula, and student counseling centers at universities have been activated for drug prevention awareness.

Protecting the rights of the disabled and those with special needs is another area that has received significant attention. In the Kurdistan Region, the total number of registered disabled and special needs individuals is (77,065). A list of (13,120) new special needs individuals has been submitted to the Federal Government's Ministry of Finance for necessary budget allocation.

On another front, the Judicial Council has established special committees to support the implementation of recommendations and the process of adaptation to international standards, particularly regarding expediting case investigations and resolutions. Additionally, regarding anti-corruption efforts, a special investigation court for corruption cases has recently been established, which is an important step in implementing the recommendations.

In the fifth term of the Kurdistan Parliament, (22) laws were passed, (8) laws are in the implementation process for legislation purposes, and (14) other previously enacted laws remain in effect that are related to implementing international recommendations.

Under the implementation of international recommendations, the Office of the International Recommendations Coordinator issued (10) procedures in relevant areas, including human trafficking prevention, organ donation, correctional facility management, rights of the disabled and those with special needs, elimination of hate speech, drug and psychotropic substance control, freedom of expression, prevention of torture and gender-based violence.

After receiving feedback from all three authorities, in coordination with our information network comprising (46) representatives from relevant regional institutions, by December 2024, we managed to prepare (9) reports, the latest being the assessment report on recommendation rates during the implementation of the regional plan, in addition to (50) other reports submitted through the Federal Government to countries, UN headquarters, and the Arab League, which form another part of the region's commitments within the advocacy process.

Honorable attendees...

In conclusion, we again express our appreciation to the relevant government institutions while extending our respect and gratitude to the legislative and judicial authorities and independent bodies for their cooperation and coordination in implementing these recommendations.

We also thank the National Committee for Writing Reports on Iraq's Ratified Conventions in the Federal Government and emphasize our continued coordination for implementing international recommendations.

Once again, welcome to all...