Committees News

The Legislative Committee are looking into tax collection to contribute to the investment budget and development, while ensuring that tax rates do not lead to flight of capital. The Culture Committee is pressing for journalists' work to be counted in their years of government service.

In recent meetings Kurdistan Parliament's committees discussed eight bills and the decision to cancel conditional release for prisoners, met with the Higher Education Minister, and visited hospitals in Erbil. 

Kurdistan Parliament's committees held meetings on: cases of corruption and waste of public funds; conditional release and rehabilitation of offenders; challenges faced by journalists; the work of the youth directorates; and the repatriation of remains of Anfal genocide victims from southern Iraq. 

Kurdistan Parliament’s Committee on Protection of Women's Rights, led by the chair Ms. Lanja Dizayee (KDP) and Awaz, a research NGO, discussed holding a conference on the factors that drive marital break-ups and successful marriages.

Kurdistan Parliament's Higher Education Committee on 9 February discussed contraventions by some private universities such as failing to lower tuition fees, and the Kurdistan Regional Government's delaying of some decisions.

On 5 February, members of Kurdistan Parliament Culture, Civil Society and Youth Committee, led by the chair Ms. Salma Fatih (PUK), participated in the Kurdistan Journalists Union’s launch of its annual report on press freedom.

The Human Rights Committee discussed the demands of offenders in rehabilitation with the Kurdistan Judicial Council; the Health Committee decided to formally demand that the KRG prosecute those producing counterfeit cancer medicines. 

The Culture Committee continues to look into the expenditure for Erbil as the 2014 tourism capital; the Women's Rights committee and the Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs discussed how to coordinate their work to protect women's rights.

The Kurdistan Parliament committee that was formed to look into the death of Majid Brahim (also known as Majid Haruty), who died while detained by Erbil Security, presented the following findings on the case on 30 January:

Kurdistan Parliament Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami and MPs on 29 January met with representatives of unemployed graduates from Kirkuk. The graduates’ representatives briefed Mr. Hawrami about their recent peaceful demonstration demanding equal employment opportunities in government institutions.