Committees' recent meetings - 1 September 2021
Legislative Committee
30 August – The committee, led by the chair Dr. Bizhar Kochar (KDP), assessed and reviewed all the articles of the Bill on Management and Preservation of Water in the Kurdistan Region. They prepared their report on the bill and directed it to Parliament’s Presidency for its second reading.
24 August – The committee prepared report on the Bill on Production and Import of Seeds and Plants and Registration, Approval, and Protection of Agricultural Chemicals in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
24 August - The committee prepared for their second readings the following bills, and sent their reports on the bills to Parliament’s Presidency: Second Amendments to the Law on the Integrity Commission of the Kurdistan Region - Iraq (Law No. 3, 2011); Second Amendments to the Law on the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Kurdistan Region – Iraq (Law No. 14 of 1993); First Amendments to the Law on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Kurdistan Region – Iraq (Law No. 10 of 2010); and Amendments to the application of Iraq Trade Law No. 30 of 1984 in Kurdistan Region - Iraq.
23 August – The committee prepared for its second reading the Bill on Amendments to the Law on the Missing and Disappeared in the Campaigns of Genocide against the Kurdistani People in Kurdistan Region - Iraq, Law No. 3 of 1999; and the Bill on Honours and Medals for second reading.
Social Affairs and Protection of Human Rights Committee
31 August – The committee visited the new Head of the Kurdistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Dr. Muna Yukhna Yaqu, and raised the conditions and situation of prison inmates and detainees, their complaints and demands.
The committee and Dr. Yaqu discussed how to coordinate their work in the future on this and other human rights issues.
Both sides agreed that some government and other institutions do not meet their responsibility to respond to questions and reports sent to them, or respond late, and agreed that they must do better.
Strengthening relations and coordination with international organizations was another topic of the meeting, for example in terms of human rights training and cooperation.
The committee and Dr. Yaqu agreed to continue meeting to work on their shared goal of improve human rights in Kurdistan Region, by benefiting from each other's experience and expertise.
30 August – The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some and sent others to Parliament’s Presidency for further work. The MPs decided to visit the Kurdistan Independent Human Rights Commission and the public prosecution service to raise the public’s complaints and demands, and also decided to visit all the social care directorates.
The committee decided to write to Parliament’s Presidency to start a discussion with the Ministry of Education about the calculation of maternity leave according to the ministry’s instructions, which affects the transfer of women teachers from villages and towns to the city.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
30 August – The committee, led by the chair Luqman Wardy (PUK) visited the Ministry of Municipalities and Tourism and met with Minister Sasan Awni, as well as the KRG Director General of Water and Sewage.
They discussed problems with public services, water shortages and the need to quickly find suitable solutions to provide better services to the citizens of Kurdistan.
The committee and Minister Awni also discussed contracts to waste and refuse collection companies, and the committee stressed that recycling must increase so that they can be sent for chemical and plastic materials purposes.
The committee asked the ministry to give their feedback on the Tourism Bill before the bill’s second reading. The aim of the law is to regulate and organize tourism sectors in the Kurdistan Region to strengthen them and diversify the economy.
Agriculture and Irrigation Committee
31 August – The committee, led by the chair Abdul Sattar Majeed (KJG), discussed farmers’ problems.
The committee discussed their recent visit to Erbil governorate authorities and Erbil provincial council, and decided to visit Duhok and Slemani next week to meet with their governors and provincial councils, as well as the directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture in both provinces. They will look into the problems of farmers and agricultural and irrigation businesses in Duhok and Slemani and aim to solve them.
The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some and sent others to Parliament’s Presidency for further work.
Health, Environment and Protection of Human Rights Committee
31 August – The committee, led by the vice-chair Shayan Askari (Change), discussed two legislative proposals, on healthcare workers and on separation of the public and private health sectors.
The MPs exchanged views on both legislative proposals and decided to submit them to Parliament’s Presidency so that they can be scheduled for their first readings at a Parliament sitting.
The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some and raised others with the relevant authorities to resolve them.
Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee
31 August – The committee, led by the chair Abdusalam Dolamari (KDP), discussed the start of the new academic year for both schools and higher education institutions. They stressed that the government’s policy must include strict Coronavirus protection measures for students, teachers and staff. The MPs created a sub-committee to investigate the issue and visit the relevant authorities.
The problems facing hourly rate lecturers and teachers and contract teachers, the hiring in the public sector of the top three scoring university and higher institute graduates, were also discussed. The MPs decided to meet with the ministers of finance, education and higher education to look for solutions to these problems.
The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some and raised others with the relevant authorities to resolve them.
Martyrs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
31 August – The committee, led by the chair Sawsan Muhammad Mirkhan (KDP), discussed the Bill on Amendments to Law No. 3 of 1999, the Law on the Missing and Disappeared in the Campaigns of Genocide against the Kurdistani People in Kurdistan – Iraq, which had its first reading at the Parliament sitting of 28 June.
The MPs exchanged views on all the articles of the bill and decided to prepare their report to Parliament’s Presidency so that the bill can be scheduled for its second reading.
The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some and raised others with the relevant authorities to resolve them.
Endowments and Religious Affairs Committee
25 August – The committee, led by the vice-chair Mala Ihsan Rekani (KDP), visited the Erbil branch of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union to meet with its new head, Musa Sheikh Yahya Baklani.
They discussed the important role of clerics in speading the message of patriotism, faith and service and both sides agreed on more coordination. They agreed that different institutions must coordinate their efforts to achieve their goals.
23 August - The committee, led by the vice-chair Mala Ihsan Rekani (KDP), met with the new KRG Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs’ Director General for Hajj and Umrah (Muslim pilgrimages to Mecca), Sheikh Niyaz Ragheb Abdullah. They wished Sheikh Niyaz success in his work.
They discussed the directorates’ responsibilities of helping to make arrangements for Kurdistan's citizens who wish to make the pilgrimage to Mecca.
They also discussed preparations for those who wish to make the Umrah pilgrimage, and both sides agreed that the process should be made easier for the public.
Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry Committee
24 August - The committee, led by the chair Ali Hama Salih (Change), held an online meeting to discuss the worrying hike in the price of bread, which affects the poor and low income earners the most. The committee exchanged views on possible solutions and wrote to the Kurdistan Regional Government Council of Ministers calling on them to put in place measures to reduce the price for consumers.
Committee on Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
23 August – The committee, led by the chair Jiwan Rojbayani (KDP), met with Dizhwar Faiq, the new head of the Article 140 file, and Rebwar Talabani, deputy head of the KRG’s board of advisers.
Both have been newly appointed by the KRG to work on normalization of the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area, and the outstanding implementation of Article 140 of the Iraqi Constitution.
The committee and the KRG officials discussed how to coordinate their efforts and the committee made some suggestions. They held a joint press conference after their meeting.
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
23 August – The committee, led by the chair Salma Fatih (PUK), discussed the Bill on the Kurdistan Olympic Committee and the Bill on Central National Archives.
For the Bill on Central National Archives, they exchanged views on all the articles and decided to prepare their final report on it the following week, when they plan to send it to Parliament’s Presidency to have it scheduled for its second reading.
For the Bill on the Kurdistan Olympic Committee, they decided to work with sports experts to prepare the final report on it.
Interior, Security and Local Councils Committee
24 August – The committee, led by the chair Shakhawan Rauf Beg (Change), discussed the Bill on Private Security Companies and prepared their final report on the bill to send it to Parliament’s Presidency and schedule it for its second reading.
The committee read all the letters and requests sent by the public and replied to some, and sent others to Parliament’s Presidency for further work.
Protection of Women’s Rights Committee
24 August – The committee, led by the chair Lanja Dizayee (KDP), met with members of the women’s organizations of several political parties.
The participants discussed legislation and legislative proposals on women’s rights and that directly impact women, giving their opinions on how legislation can help to solve some of the problems.
24 August – The same day, the committee, led by the chair Lanja Dizayee (KDP), discussed data provided by the Kurdistan Independent Human Rights Commission that is relevant to the committees’ remit of women’s rights.