Committees' recent meetings - 7 November 2022
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament’s committees’ recent work and meetings:
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
17 October 2022 – The committee met with several civil society organizations who said that they are preparing a proposal to amend some of the provisions of the Law on Demonstrations, Law No. 11 of 2010, and are meeting with other parliament committees as well on this issue, such as the Interior Committee.
The committee supported the organizations’ request for amendments, saying that gathering to express dissatisfaction or to make demands is a basic civic right. They asked the organizations to have more consultations with relevant stakeholders and authorities so that the law can be amended without any pitfalls or shortcomings.
Interior, Security and Local Councils Committee
17 October 2022 – The committee met with several civil society organizations who said that they are preparing a proposal to amend some of the provisions of the Law on Demonstrations, Law No. 11 of 2010, and are meeting with other parliament committees as well on this issue, such as the Culture and Civil Society Committee.
The committee supported the organizations’ request for amendments and asked the organizations to have more consultations with relevant stakeholders and authorities so that the law can be amended without any shortcomings.
Legislative Committee
4 October 2022 – The committee discussed the legislative proposals to extend the current fifth term of Parliament, and on Sport in Kurdistan Region – Iraq.
5 October 2022 – The committee discussed the legislative proposal to extend the current fifth term of Parliament and prepared their report on the bill for its second reading.
12 October 2022 – The committee discussed the articles of the Bill on Amendments to the Application of the Law on the Administration of Iraqi Endowments (Law No. 64 of 1966), and the Bill on the first amendments to the Law on the Shura Council in Kurdistan Region – Iraq, to prepare their reports and submit them to Parliament’s Presidency so that the bills can be scheduled for their second reading.
Legislative Committee with Social Affairs Committee
25 October 2022 – The legislative and social affairs committees met with representatives of UNICEF, the EU, the ILO and the KRG Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs to discuss the latest draft of the Labour Bill.
Martyrs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
17 October 2022 – The committee held a meeting to discuss achieving more recognition of the genocide against the Kurds, with KRG Minister of Justice Farsat Ahmad, Minister of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs Abdullah Mahmoud, Minister for the Region for Parliament Affairs Dr. Vala Farid, and other officials.
Minister Farsat Ahmad and the KRG Department of Foreign Relations (DFR) adviser on genocide recognition explained the KRG’s efforts and actions so far on achieving greater recognition of the genocide.
The discussions centered on how to achieve recognition of the crimes as genocide in Iraqi and international courts, and how to benefit from the decisions made so far by Iraqi courts.
The committee also raised the importance of passing a law on genocide and on how the Kurdish people should be compensated.
25 October 2022 – The committee discussed their last meeting with the KRG Justice Minister, Minister for Parliament Affairs and KRG DFR adviser on genocide, and how to step up both national and international efforts to achieve greater recognition of the Kurdish genocide.
Protection of Women’s Rights Committee
19 October 2022 – The committee discussed their participation the next day in Salahaddin University Research Centre’s forum on online sexual harassment and abuse, and liaising with the KRG and other stakeholders ahead of the forum.
The committee discuss several issues raised to them and replied to queries and requests.
Integrity Committee
24 October 2022 – The committee discussed the decision-making mechanisms on the cases of spending of Coronavirus containment funds and of Kurdistan customs revenues, and decided to look into the Kurdistan Integrity Commission’s files on these cases.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
17 October 2022 – The committee discussed the case of a Kurdistan Region citizen detained in Turkey when he was trying to migrate to Europe, and then wrongly deported to Azaz in Syria. The young man’s family asked the committee to help him return home safely.
The committee decided to raise the young man’s case with Turkey’s Consulate General in Erbil.
The committee in the past has met with the Consulate General several times for similar cases and has helped some 100 young Kurdistan Region citizens deported to Azaz, Syria, to return home.
The same day, the committee visited the new German Consul General in Erbil, Klaus Streicher, to congratulate him on his posting and wish him success.
The committee thanked Germany for their Parliament’s decision to extend the mandate of German forces in Kurdistan Region and Iraq.
Consul General Streicher said that Germany values the relationship with Kurdistan Region and will continue their cooperation and coordination in many fields.
Agriculture and Irrigation Committee
24 October 2022 - The committee stressed that the relevant authorities must prevent the import of foreign prohibited goods and foods and they decided to visit Haji Umran and Bashmakh custom border crossings early next month.
The committee's investigations into the 11 billion dinars owed to farmers for their crops for the years 2014, 2015, 2016 were presented to the members.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Municipalities, Transport, Communication, Travel and Tourism Committee
5 October 2022 – The committee discussed a request from the provincial councils of Erbil, Slemani and Duhok to amend Law No. 7 of 2021, the Law on Ownership of Illegally Used or Taken Land in Municipalities of Kurdistan Region – Iraq, because some people could not complete the procedures, or have not yet started the process and should be given a chance to benefit from this law. The committee supported the suggested amendment.
The committee decided to draft a comprehensive report to Parliament’s Presidency on their fact-finding visits to the authorities in most of Kurdistan Region’s independent administrations and governorates regarding municipal services, water, transport, urban and green spaces, public land and tourism.
23 - 24 October 2022 – At the request of Parliament’s Presidency, the committee visited Darbandikhan and Chamchamal to look into the water resources problems in those districts. They met with the mayors, heads of municipal services and directors of water resources in both districts and compiled a report of their findings for Parliament’s Presidency.
1 November 2022 – The committee visited the KRG Tourism Board and the KRG directorate of water and sewage.
The committee asked the KRG Tourism Board to issue guidelines and instructions to implement the KRG Tourism Law.
With the KRG water and sewage directorate, the committee raised water shortages and possible solutions for rain flood prevention measures in Erbil.
Social Affairs and Protection of Human Rights Committee
10 October 2022 – The committee discussed several social problems, the current state of human rights and problems in prisons and the experiences of prison inmates. They decided to meet with the directors of all the prisons to find appropriate and comprehensive solutions.
The committee met with civil society organizations and staff of the Kurdistan Region Independent Human Rights Commission, who highlighted the KRG’s Kurdistan Regional Plan for Human Rights and asked that Parliament amend the Law on Demonstrations.
The committee replied to correspondence.
16 October 2022 – The committee and Shoresh Qadir, the KRG Representative in Sweden, discussed the relationships between Kurdistan’s Parliament and Government and those of Sweden, and how to build ties between the committee and their counterpart in the Swedish Parliament, with Mr. Qadir’s help and support, so that they can benefit from Sweden’s expertise and support for Kurdistan Region especially on social affairs.
Representative Qadir and the committee decided to coordinate more on human rights and social affairs issues.
20 October 2022 – To hear their views on the Labour Bill, the committee met with the Head of the American Coordination Centre organization, and with the executive of the union of labour syndicates in Kurdistan Region.
They agreed on the need to protect both workers’ and employers’ rights in the Labour Bill.
The committee is scheduled to hold a special meeting, under the supervision of Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq, to work on their report for the bill’s second reading.
25 October 2022 – The committee worked on their report on the Labour Bill, and also met with prisons directors to hear about their problems in managing and running the prisons.
26 October 2022 – Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq supervised the committee’s meeting to complete their report on the Labour Bill, which comprises 159 articles. During its drafting many discussions were held with stakeholders about fundamental rights and principles, on the job and vocational training, regulating foreign workers’ employment, individual work contracts, and workers' and employers’ rights and obligations.
The bill has provisions on the determination of wages, working hours, public holidays and leave, as well as the protection of women and youth, and the rights of workers in quarries, mines and chemical and oil industries.
They also discussed collective bargaining, disputes and agreements, and labour tribunals.
Endowments and Religious Affairs Committee
5 October 2022 - The committee conveyed best wishes to Yazidis for the Jamayi religious festival:
We give our best wishes to our Yazidi brothers and sisters in the Kurdistan Region for Jezhni Jamayi (the Jamayi festival). We ask God to grant happiness, peace, and prosperity and to end tragedies and disasters.
On this happy and blessed occasion, we reiterate the importance of protecting and strengthening peaceful coexistence and mutual acceptance, so that Kurdistan forever remains a place of harmony between all religious and ethnic components.
7 October 2022 - The committee conveyed best wishes to Muslims for Mawlud, the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday:
We give our best wishes to all Muslims in Kurdistan on the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
It goes without saying that the Prophet of Islam’s message, which gained humanity’s attention, is a message of love, tolerance, mutual acceptance and brotherhood.
It is a matter of pride that throughout history the Kurdish people, following the path of Sultan Muzaffar ad-Din, who was the first person to openly commemorate the birth of the Prophet, celebrate this anniversary in all towns and cities. Kurds and Mawlud can never be separated.
We hope that this anniversary brings happiness and strengthens our culture of peaceful coexistence and unity between all the ethnic and religious communities of Kurdistan.
7 October 2022 - The committee visited mosques, temples, markets and spaces holding celebrations, to give their best wishes for Mawlud, the celebration of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday.
26 October 2022 – The committee decided to monitor the process of managing and regulating the Hajj pilgrimage arrangements, and to send their findings to the KRG Council of Ministers through Parliament’s Presidency, so that the shortcomings in arranging the Hajj for Kurdistan Region’s citizens can be resolved.
The committee discussed the decision to transfer authority over Islamic studies schools from the KRG Ministry of Education to the KRG Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. They stressed that the Religious Affairs Ministry should provide for Islamic schools’ needs so that their graduates can better serve Kurdistan’s society.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Reconstruction and Investment Committee
12 October 2022 – The committee discuss the locations of planned housing units for low income earners and rent payers. The committee vice-chair Bahjat Ali Spindari (KDP) said that they looked into where the housing units will be built and have been assured by the authorities that they will be built in suitable locations close to city centres.
The committee also decided to ask for more clarification on some unfinished road-building projects.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
5 October 2022 – The committee gave their views on the articles of the legislative proposal on the Kurdistan Region's Health Professionals Syndicate, and decided to hold a workshop soon with experts and stakeholders in order to prepare their report on the bill for its second reading.
Kurdistani Areas outside the KRG Administrative Area
9 October 2022 – The committee discussed drafting a report on the current situation in the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area, for submission to Parliament’s Presidency. They also discussed planning a conference with the participation of experts on how to normalize the situation in those areas.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Finance and Economy Committee
10 October 2022 – The committee decided to question the KRG Ministry of Finance and Economy about the funds held in Kurdistan Region’s banks that are payments for farmers’ wheat production but have not yet been paid to them.
The committee decided to write to the KRG to stress that the relevant officials attend Parliament sittings to discuss the committee’s comprehensive report compiling financial issues and problems raised by different MPs.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry Committee
24 October 2022 - The committee discussed how household heating kerosene will be distributed and its high price, and they decided to write to the Kurdistan Region High Council on Oil and Gas to continue raising the issue.
They also decided to ask the KRG Ministry of Electricity about the introduction of the government electricity prepayment system.
Peshmerga Committee
5 October 2022 – The committee decided to meet with the Peshmerga Ministry to discussed Peshmerga retirement, and the Finance and Economy Ministry to call for the problem of the allowances of Peshmerga units 70 and 80 to be resolved.
The committee also decided to meet with the Kurdistan Region Investment Board to ascertain whether there are any plans to provide low-cost housing units for members of the Peshmerga forces. Recently the Investment Board announced that low-cost housing will be built and offered for sale to people on low incomes and rent payers. The committee wants to understand what will be done for the Peshmerga in this regard. They stressed that they will work on the issue through Parliament and the KRG.
The committee replied to correspondence.
10 October 2022 - At the request of Parliament’s Presidency, the committee visited Bradost and Balakayati to look into military attacks on those areas by Iran and Turkey and meet with victims and residents who have been forced to leave their villages.
The committee met with the mayor of Choman, Qasre and Smilan district directors, and other relevant staff.
They saw the shelling near Warda village and heard from villagers injured or displaced from their homes by the shellings and bombardments, as well as the people and officials of Sidekan in Bradost area which very recently was bombed by Iran.
The committee also met with the head of Soran independent administration.
18 October 2022 – The committee met with Peshmerga Minister Shoresh Ismail to discuss the legislative proposal on the rights and privileges of Peshmerga veterans, fair and timely promotion of officers, Peshmerga Ministry’s pension payments and the reasons why it is the only ministry that so far has not paid pension bonuses, Peshmerga’s allowances and extras, giving meritorious ranks to officers who were not promoted when they should have been, reorganization and unification of brigades 70 and 80 under the Ministry, retirement of officers and Peshmerga, solving the problems of families of martyred Peshmerga, counting the years of service of Peshmerga who served before 5 March 1991, and many other issues.
Minister Shoresh Ismail answered the committee’s questions and said that the ministry is work diligently to improve the livelihoods and conditions of Peshmerga forces.
19 October 2022 – The committee met with Dr. Muhammad Shukri, the Head of the KRG Investment Board, to ask that low-cost housing units be built or provided for Peshmerga forces, as has been done specifically for other public employees in the past, and to sell them at an affordable price consistent with Peshmerga’s salaries.
The committee also asked the Investment Board that when providing land to investors for housing projects, the investors must provide some of the units to Peshmerga at a reduced cost.
Dr. Muhammad Shukri said that the allocation of the low-cost housing units has started for martyrs’ families, and pledged to raise the committee’s demands in writing with the KRG Council of Ministers and to ask that allocations be made for Peshmerga soldiers.
26 October 2022 – The committee discussed their recent visit to areas in Bradost and Sidekan that were bombarded by Iran. They decided to raise the problems facing Peshmerga forces to Parliament’s Presidency.
The committee decided to meet with Peshmerga veterans’ organizations to discuss pensions and removing ineligible claimants from the Peshmerga pensions list.
The committee decided to ask the Peshmerga and Interior ministers for meetings.
The committee replied to correspondence.