Committees' recent meetings - 11 February 2021
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament's committees' recent meetings and activities:
Social Affairs and Protection of Human Rights Committee
9 February - Parliament's Research Centre, in cooperation with the non-profit consultancy the Institute for International Law and Human Rights (IILHR) on amending the Law on Rights and Privileges of Persons with Disabilities and Special Needs in Kurdistan Region (Law No. 22 of 2011).
The Parliament committee’s chair Romeo Hakari (National Union Coalition) and members and representatives of several organisations discussed the need to expand the framework for protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, international standards and the major problems regarding their rights in Kurdistan Region. They analysed the law’s articles and proposed methods for amending it.
It was decided that more meetings will be held to work on amending the law in cooperation with the relevant authorities.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
8 February- The Committee, led by the hair Luqman Wardi (PUK), held their weekly meeting.
The MPs discussed the articles that need to be amended in Law on Ownership of Illegally Taken or Used Land in Kurdistan Region’s Municipalities (in Law No. 3 of 2019). The committee had previously held meetings with the Municipalities Ministry, the general directors for municipalities in the governorates and independent administrations, and had asked experts’ opinions and suggestions.
The committee members prepared their final report on the amendments and directed it to Parliament’s Presidency so that it can be scheduled for its first reading at a Parliament sitting.
Protection of Women's Rights Committee
10 February - The committee, led by chair Lanja Dizayee (KDP), held their usual meeting.
The goals of eliminating violence against women and achieving gender equality were discussed. The MPs decided to form a sub-committee to visiting the governorates, independent administrations and relevant authorities on the two issues to scrutinize the authorities’ work and to convey the committee's concerns.
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
9 February - The committee, led by the chair Ziyad Jabbar (PUK), visited the Ministry of Finance and Economy and met with Minister Awat Janab Noori.
The purpose of the meeting was to look into the Ministry's preparations for drafting the 2021 Kurdistan Region budget, reorganization of taxation, public employees’ salaries, and the status of the talks between Erbil and Baghdad on Kurdistan’s share of the budget and other outstanding issues.
Minister Awat Janab and his staff explained the preparations for drafting the 2021 Kurdistan Region budget bill.
The Minister said that he is optimistic about the progress of the discussions.
The Ministry's measures to reorganize taxes, and the KRG’s efforts to pay public employees’ salaries every 30 days were another subject of meeting.
The Ministry gave the committee the 2020 financial statement.