In the presence of Major General
Bakhtiar Mohammad the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs
MoPA, Major General Othman Mohammad Mustafa, the Director of Media and National
Awareness at the Ministry of Peshmerga Affairs, and his deputy Brigadier Shwan
mahmood. The KCIL has announced a two day introductory workshop, 11-12
May,2025, regarding International humanitarian Law core principles for the MoPA
commanders in Erbil province. The workshop commenced with the Major General
Bakhtyar speech which quoted that the Kurdish nation was always maintaining the
human rights values and always adhered with them, especially by our commanders
during armed conflicts and considered proportionality and good-will to save
civilians, even animals and sacred places.However, These efforts that made by
the KCIL within these years, would be supportive and stepping stone for as as
MoPA commanders to become well-versed to having standardised the IHL procedures and disseminating the IHL principles for
our future armed conflicts within the KRI context to defend our legitimate
rights as the Kurds. As the first day kicked off, the
participating officers were familiarized with the content of Manual on the Law
of Armed Conflict for the Kurdistan Peshmerga Forces, and types of military
courts by Dr. Awara Hussein. Then Dr. Mohammed Elewa Badar presented a session
on the Military Necessity and Justification, Limitation, Distinction,
Proportionality along with a discussion on goodwill during military conflicts.
Furthermore, at the set off the second day, Dr. Sanar Taha, was delivered a
session on protected People, property, and places within IHL. Subsequently, Ms.
Gabrielle Radu presented a comprehensive discussion on the legal experience of
European legal institutions in the Ukrainian war, and evidence collection
approaches during armed conflicts. In tandem with this discussion Dr. Gurgen
Petrossian Provided an overview of international criminal law to the officers,
emphasizing the accountability of commanders and soldiers for war crimes. The
last lecture was on the types of crimes in international humanitarian law.
Kermanj Osman, Advisor to the Ministry of Justice. In the margins of the
lectures, the latest issues related to the prospects of armed conflict and
legal changes in international and domestic law regarding war crimes in terms
of individual and state responsibility were discussed between the trainers and
commanders.