Summary of committees’ recent meetings – 15 October 2019
Kurdistan Parliament’s committees’ recent meetings and activities:
Social Affairs, Protection of Women's Rights, and Human Rights Committee
14 October - The committee led by the chair Mr. Romeo Hakari (National Union Coalition) held their weekly meeting. The meeting focused on death sentences (death penalties) in Kurdistan; the committee had been asked to decide on the fate of prisoners who have been sentenced to death, since the Presidency of the Kurdistan Region had not signed execution warrants since 2005, even though the President is the authority that must sign them.
The committee also decided to meet with women's organizations next week to discuss the misuse of women in advertising.
The committee discussed the social problems and complaints submitted to them and replied in detail.
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
14 October - The committee led by the chair Mr. Ziyad Jabbar (PUK) met with the Erbil Branch of the Kurdistan Exporters and Importer Union and discussed international trade agreements. The meeting also focused on customs tariffs, as trade flows in Kurdistan have falleb by 50% and thousands have lost their jobs as a result.
The union’s President Mr. Saeed Gaylan and several of its members, and parliament committee advisers were present at the meeting.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
14 October - The committee led by chair Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP) held their usual meeting. The MPs focused on the situation in Rojava, Western Kurdistan, and expressed their deep concern about the military campaign which has already killed civilians. Another focus was on illegal immigration to other countries from Slemani and Erbil international airports. The committee decided to visit the Interior Ministry and meet with the airports’ officials to clarify and resolve the issue.
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
14 October - The committee led by chair Ms. Sawsan Muhammad Mirkhan (KDP) held their regular meeting. The committee reviewed all the notes and requests submitted by the public and responded to them. The committee also discussed their meetings with the Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, and decided to visit the three ministries of Education, Finance and Municipalities to discuss the rights and privileges of the families of martyrs and political prisoners.
The committee stressed that a chair must be appointed soon to head the Committee for the Compensation of Victims of Terrorism, and emphasized that it should begin its work soon. The committee decided to submit a report to the Speaker of the Kurdistan Parliament on the content of their meeting.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
14 October- The committee led by chair Dr. Sabah Zebari (KDP) held their regular meeting. Committee members met with staff of the KRG Directorate of medicines quality control. The directorate staff discussed their work processes, the number of employees and the limitations on their work. They talked about their needs to speed up their work, especially providing a convenient location for specialist staff and physicians and advanced laboratory devices. The committee decided to meet again with the directorate as soon as possible, to closely examine their problems and seek solutions.