Committees' recent meetings - 15 March 2021
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament’s committees’ recent work and meetings:
Endowments & Religious Affairs Committee
10 March 2021 - The committee’s message on the observance of the Muslim Al-Isra and Miraj:
On the occasion of Al-Isra and Miraj (the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to Heaven), we warmly congratulate the Muslims of Kurdistan Region. The Prophet’s (PBUH) night journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension was a unique event.
Let us learn from this holy occasion to maintain Kurdistan Region’s peace and stability and to overcome hardships, pandemics and disasters. Let us all abide by the measures to protect everyone’s health from the dangers of the Coronavirus. By following the containment measures, everyone can protect themselves and their loved ones.
On this important and blessed occasion, we ask God to bless everyone and bring an end to hardships.
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
10 March - The committee, led by the chair Salma Fatih (PUK) gave an appreciation award to the activist Ms. Parez Omer for her work and services for Yazidi girls and women.
Ms. Parez successfully campaigned for reparations for Yazidi girls and women who were rescued from ISIS, which was passed into law by the Iraqi Council of Representatives (parliament).
The committee also met with Ms. Salma Omar, a member of the Iraqi Council of Representatives.
9 March - The committee, led by the chair Salma Fatih (PUK), held their regular meeting.
The MPs exchanged their opinions on the final version of their report on the state of civil society organizations in Kurdistan Region, which is scheduled to be read out at a Parliament sitting to explain the problems.
The committee’s report includes recommendations to the government, the offices of civil society organizations and related parties.
Legislative Committee
9 March – The committee, led by the chair Dr. Bijar Kochar (KDP), held their regular meeting to evaluate the bill (draft legislation) on the import and sale of oil products in Kurdistan Region constitutionally and legally.
The committee studied the report on the bill by Parliament’s Committee on Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry.
The MPs discussed the articles and paragraphs of the bill in detail, reviewing it for legal content, form, and consistency.
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
9 March – The committee, led by the chair Sawsan Muhammad Mirkhan Said (KDP), held their regular meeting.
The meeting began with a minute’s silence in memory of the martyrs of Kurdistan and Iraq.
The MPs discussed their subcommittee’s report on the findings of their visit to the General Directorate of Martyrs' Affairs in Slemani governorate.
They also discussed the many remembrance days of genocidal crimes as well as celebratory anniversaries such as Nawroz in the month of March, which has been the most eventful month in Kurdistan’s modern history. In particular they discussed the forthcoming 33rd remembrance of the chemical bombing of Halabja.
The committee decided to discuss with the Presidency of Parliament how to mark the remembrances of crimes and genocidal acts and the committee’s responsibilities on these occasions.
The committee also decided to write formally to the Ministry of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs, via the Presidency of Parliament, asking for accurate statistics now that the ministry's reform committees have begun the reform process and a review of the list of martyrs’ names, and for up-to-date information on what the ministry committee has done about the list of former political prisoners.
It was decided that the committee’s advisers will review current laws to understand the gaps and shortcomings in legislation, so that they can be reviewed to better serve martyrs’ families.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
9 March - The committee, led by the chair Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP), held their usual meeting.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss visas and the companies that provide visa services.
The committee also visited China’s Consulate General to thank them for donating 5,000 vaccines against the Coronavirus to Kurdistan Region.
The MPs decided to investigate visa problems and the public’s complaints about visa services companies, and to visit the relevant authorities at the Ministry of the Interior and the Tourism Board.
Protection of Women’s Rights Committee
9 March - The committee, led by the chair Lanja Dizayee (KDP), met with the women's organizations of Kurdistan Region’s political parties. They discussed the legal provisions related to gender, in addition to strengthening their cooperation in order to promote the role and rights of women in the Kurdistan Region.
Gender responsive budgeting was also discussed with regards to the Kurdistan Regional Government's 2021 general budget bill.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
9 March - The Committee, led by the chair Luqman Wardi (PUK), reviewed the latest draft of amendments to Law no. 3 of 2019, the Law on Ownership of Illegally Used or Taken Land in Municipalities.
After discussion, the committee changed some articles and, with the signature of the majority of the committee members, sent the bill to Parliament’s Presidency for the necessary procedures.
The legislative proposal on the management and protection of archaeological sites and heritage in the Kurdistan Region, which was had its first reading, was discussed and the MPs decided to ask the KRG Council of Ministers in writing for its opinions on the bill.
Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry Committee
9 March - The committee, led by the chair Ali Hama Salih (Change), held their weekly meeting.
They discussed their field visits to Erbil, Slemani and Duhok governorates which were carried out to investigate the quality of fuel.
The committee started writing a special report on the poor quality of fuel in the Kurdistan Region and will submit it to the Presidency of Parliament to inform the relevant parties.
Peshmerga Committee
9 March - The committee, led by the chair Reving Hiruri (KDP), met with military representatives of the Kurdistan Region Presidency, consisting of Major General Askandar Haji Saleh and Ghalib Hussein Osman, and a representative of the Peshmerga Retirement Administration.
They discussed the bill on honouring the Peshmerga and all its legal issues, and both sides agreed on more cooperation.
On the same day, the Committee met with representatives of the Retirement Administration and discussed several important issues, including Law No. 38 of 2007, Article 10, paragraph 2, the Law on Peshmerga Service and Retirement, which states: ‘The period of service that Peshmerga gave will be counted as double for retirement purposes, for those who served before 5 March 1991, or who have served on the battlefield or in the military movements areas where the forces and the joint sections are appointed by order of the minister’.
Currently, according to investigations, this legal provision will not be implemented in the relevant institutions, including retirement.
After discussing the issue, the committee members and their advisers expressed their views to the Retirement Administration and asked them to make every attempt to resolve the problem.
At the end of the meeting, the committee read all the requests and memos sent to the committee, and after discussion, some of them were answered, and the others were directed to Parliament’s Presidency.
Reconstruction and Investment Committee
9 March - The committee, led by the vice-chair Bahjat Spindari (KDP), visited the General Directorate of Investment in Erbil and were welcomed by Saman Arab, the General Director of investment.
The MPs explained that the purpose of their visit was to investigate and understand the problems in Erbil governorate and how to solve them.
The two sides discussed in detail the issues and agreed that more efforts should be intensified to solve them.