As part of its ongoing efforts to familiarize the forces under the Ministry of Peshmerga with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Criminal Law (ICL), the KCIL, in coordination with the General Directorate of Media and National Awareness of the Ministry of Peshmerga (MOPA), conducted a two-day workshop from August 27-28, 2024, in Sulaymaniyah Governorate. The workshop was attended by 22 senior officers from the MOPA Second Infantry Division in Sulaymaniyah Province.
 On the first day, participants were introduced to the Manual on the Law of Armed Conflict specific to the Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces, presented by Dr. Twana Abdulrahman. Notably, this manual is the result of a year-long effort by the KCIL team of experts for the Peshmerga forces. It covers several topics, including the fundamental principles of IHL and international conventions such as the Geneva Conventions and their protocols pertaining to armed conflicts and the prevention of war crimes. Later, Dr. Awara Hussein, Dean of the College of Administration and Law at Halabja University, delivered an instructive session introducing the participants to IHL. He also provided a brief overview of international courts and tribunals where hearings take place for international crimes, such as genocide, mass killings, and crimes against humanity.
In the afternoon, Dr. Muhammad Rashid presented a topic on the commission of war crimes and the procedures for their prosecution under IHL and ICL. The second day began with a session titled “Commander Responsibility and Grounds for Excluding Criminal Responsibility,” presented by Dr. Muhammad Rashid. Participants were familiarized with the core concepts that define criminal responsibility during armed conflicts, alongside the contemporary mechanisms aimed at mitigating criminal liability as proven within IHL and ICL. The final session of the workshop focused on analyzing the principles of International Humanitarian Law from the perspectives of distinction, proportionality, and necessity. So far, the officers shared personal narratives from the frontlines against the extremist forces of ISIS, highlighting their adherence to humanitarian principles in protecting public spaces and civilians. Hence, these narratives underscore the workshop’s message and reinforce the theoretical aspects of international law for Peshmerga forces. Thus, the workshop concluded with the presence of Brigadier General Shwan Mahmoud Ahmed, Deputy Director of MOPA Media and National Awareness, along with the workshop trainers. Participation certificates were given to the attending officers, and the event culminated with a group photo and closing remarks.