Summary of committees’ recent meetings - 15th May 19
15th May 2019 - A brief summary of Kurdistan Parliament’s committees’ recent meetings and activities:
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
14th May - Met Xwener Organization, a non-profit that promotes reading and the love of books. Received a written request to reactivate Law Number 17 of 2012 which protects the rights of authors. The request was signed by writers, translators, researchers, and a number of print and publishing houses in Kurdistan. According to this law, the rights of writers and researchers are protected, and copying of their work is prohibited. Agreed to discuss the request in the committee’s future meetings.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
6th May - Met Dr. Khabat Khalid, Adviser on healthcare at the Council of Ministers. Discussed how to increase coordination between government and parliament to improve the health sector in Kurdistan. Agreed on preparing bills that support the provision of healthcare, in particular through health insurance, and that will benefit a more people in Kurdistan.
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
7th May - Met Baravan Hamdi, Deputy Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, and several general directors of the Ministry. Submitted some questions to the Deputy Minister regarding the martyrs’ families: their monthly salary, work and study opportunities, and health status. Discussed the above-mentioned points to find solutions. Agreed on preparing a report of the meeting and submitting it to parliament’s presidency.
Committee for Social Affairs, Protection of Women's Rights, and Human Rights
14th May - Met with a delegation from the American Bar Association and its Centre for Human Rights in the Middle East and North Africa. Discussed the committee’s recent activities and drafting a law special to the committee. Decided to coordinate with the centre on legislative affairs and prepare a bill within the framework of basic human rights.
Committee for Kurdistani Areas outside the KRG Administrative Area
14th May – Discussed, among other issues, how the committee can work in the Kurdistani Areas Outside the KRG Administrative Area and how to visit the people from those areas to hear about their conditions. Also discussed the challenges facing farmers whose lands are under threat because of a lack of security.
Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee
14th May - Met the administrative board of a Swedish organization named PAK and discussed the possibility of opening a Swedish school in the Kurdistan Region for the children of Kurdish families living in Sweden who wish to return to live in Kurdistan. The committee thanked PAK for the plan and promised to support them, as they viewed the project as being at the service of the Kurdistan Region’s education.
