Iraqi Kurdistan Updates
Iraqi Kurdish lawyers and judges met over the week of December 3rd in Erbil and Suleimaniya Kurdistan-Iraq to examine ways to use international law to promote human rights, particularly women's rights. The meetings, lasting two days in each city, were convened by Kurdish Women's Rights Watch (KWRW) and the Global Justice Center (GJC), both non-governmental organizations.
The promotion of women's rights is a key objective of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), headed by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani. Minister Falah Mustafa Bakir, Head of the Department of Foreign Relations, spoke at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Prime Minister.
Mr Bakir said, "The KRG is experiencing a transitional period. We are taking steps to emerge from an era of oppression and enter an era of freedom and democracy. Now is the right time to carry out social development in a scientific and modern way."
Training topics included: Improving the Participation of Female Judges, Challenging the Definition of Democracy in the Courtroom, Judicial Entreprenuership, and Embedding International Law in Times of Transition.
The Global Justice Center presented an award honoring Jiyan Aziz Gardee, the Iraqi High Tribunal's only female judge, for her work on behalf of Kurdish women in the Anfal trial.
The GJC will continue its work on promoting Gender rights in Kurdistan.
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