Committees’ recent meetings – 8 December 2019
Social Affairs and Human Rights Committee
3 December- The committee held their weekly meeting, led by the chair Mr. Romeo Hakari (National Union Coalition). The meeting focused on the case of corruption by the head of the Kurdistan Independent Human Rights Commission, according to a report by the Ministry of Finance's audit department. The committee decided to meet Parliament’s Presidency to discuss the report on the corruption case.
The MPs said that the International Day of Persons with Disabilities was a call and reminder to everyone to guarantee their rights.
Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
3 December- The committee held their usual meeting, led by the chair Ms. Jiwan Rojbayani (KDP). The members decided to meet with the Kurdistani members of the Iraqi Constitutional review committee to give them their views. In the wake of protests in central and southern Iraq, the Iraqi Council of Representatives on 28 October voted to form a constitutional review committee tasked with recommending amendments.
The meeting discussed all the notes and requests of the public submitted to the committee and provided the necessary response.
The committee also discussed the case of Kurdish farmers’ agricultural land in the village of Pelkana, which is now occupied by Arabs.
The MPs also discussed the situation of IDPs from Shengal living in camps. The committee decided to raise the Shengal IDPs’ problems and needs with the relevant authorities so that their needs can be met.
4 December - The committee led by the chair Ms. Rojbayani awarded Officer Hussein Qadi, the officer in charge of searching for and rescuing ISIS's captives. The committee commended the office for their vital work of bringing back many children kidnapped by ISIS terrorists over the past years.
Agriculture and Water Resources Committee
3 December – The committee, led by the chair Abdulsatar Majid (KIG), held their regular meeting. Because of the adverse impact that bank interest is having on farmers, the committee decided to send a formal request to the KRG Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, to waive the interest from farmers’ loans provided by the Agricultural Bank. The committee will send the request via Parliament’s Presidency.
The MPs discussed the level of cooperation between their committee and the KRG Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources on pesticides, crop destruction by pests, and on compensation for farmers whose land was affected by flooding for several years.
The committee also discussed the demands and complaints sent to them by Kurdistan’s farmers and the public, some of them via Parliament’s Presidency. They focused on the requests sent by farmers.
Integrity Committee
3 December – The committee, led by the chair Mr. Said Harki (KDP), met with Mr. Anwar Tunesi, an anti-corruption expert at the United Nations, to exchange information and forge ties. Staff from the Kurdistan Region Integrity Board also took part in the meeting.
The MPs explained the committee’s duties, goals and priorities, which are to look at all aspects of corruption and how to eliminate or prevent it. They said that working with other entities and benefiting from their knowledge is very important to their work.
Mr. Tunesi and the Kurdistan Integrity Board staff said that the committee has done good work so far in terms of oversight and follow-up of the executive authorities, and commended the all-party efforts to expose and end corruption.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
2 December - The committee, led by the chair Dr. Rebwar Babkayi (KDP), discussed the cases of Kurds who have become refugees in Greece, and the level and quality of help that they are receiving. The MPs decided to meet with the Greek Consulate to raise the issue, and to send a report on it to Parliament’s Presidency.
The committee also discussed the reports and notes sent to them by the public.