As part of the ongoing visits conducted by the KCIL team to the legal and judicial institutions of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI), an official meeting was held on June 1, 2024, in Erbil. During this meeting, the team met with Judge Abdul Jabar Aziz Hassan, President of the KRI Judicial Council. The meeting covered the work and activities of the KCIL over the past few years, including organizing workshops and scientific trips to the International Criminal Tribunals and United Nations legal institutions in Europe. Additionally, the new project of the KCIL, in collaboration with the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs through IFA, titled “Strengthening the Rule of Law through Incorporating International Human Rights Standards,” was highlighted in detail. This project aims to prepare a manual on fair trials and implement training and workshops for judges and prosecutors to enhance their understanding of fair trial standards. This initiative also seeks to familiarize judges and prosecutors with international law and human rights conventions, particularly those to which Iraq is bound and has ratified. During the discussions, both parties explored ways to promote coordination and organize joint projects in the present and future.
Thus, Judge Abdul Jabar Aziz emphasized the importance of the work of civil society organizations in supporting the strategic processes of the Judicial Council and securing fair trails within the KRI courts. At the end of the meeting, the KCIL team extended its gratitude to the Presidency of the Judicial Council for their efforts in consolidating the values of justice, understanding, and supporting the Center’s endeavors to create a legal environment aligned with modern understanding of international law standards and its demystifying approaches throughout the KRI legal institutions.