Erbil, Kurdistan – Iraq (KRG.org) – The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) is creating a mechanism to ensure the Region's laws to protect women from violence are implemented at all levels.

The KRG's Commission on Violence against Women, chaired by Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, yesterday decided to create monitoring boards to ensure that the region's laws to protect women are upheld and enforced in courts.

In addition, law enforcement departments set up by the Commission specifically to protect vulnerable women and monitor and follow up crimes are to be reorganised under one body to guarantee unified procedures in prosecuting cases. This will ensure that crime prevention and data-collection departments, the police and the judiciary cooperate more closely and apply the law correctly and effectively to protect women.

The Commission also agreed that 'komalayati' bodies, traditional social bodies used to reconcile disputing parties groups led by village elders and unconnected to the government, must no longer play a role in deciding legal cases.

Following the commission's meeting, Prime Minister Barzani said, "The changes agreed today will further strengthen the rule of law in the Kurdistan Region when it comes to prosecuting those who commit crimes against women. It is essential that our courts investigate and prosecute crimes against women in the most efficient way possible. The monitoring boards, reorganisation of the relevant departments, and eradication of 'komalayati' bodies will help ensure this."

Ms Nazand Begikhani, a women's rights activist and independent adviser to the commission, said, "As its first step the commission created special departments in Erbil, Dohuk and Suleimaniah which we have agreed to reorganise today. Following this, the commission initiated judicial workshops to ensure that judges realise the sensitivity of gender-based cases. We have also changed the law so that everyone, be they Peshmerga soldiers or official party members, who commits crimes against women are not immune from prosecution. And we are working successfully with religious leaders so that they address the subject of violence against women in their Friday prayers."

The commission, established in June 2007, part of the KRG's drive to examine and solve the problem of gender-based crimes, including honour killing. It is charged with monitoring all new and outstanding cases of honuor killings and ensuring that the police and legal system process the cases correctly. In cooperation with civil rights groups, the commission raises awareness of women's rights and honour-based violence through education, the media, and health and religious institutions. It also cooperates with foreign countries in order to combat transnational honour crimes.

The Commission consists of the KRG ministers for the Interior, Justice, Human Rights, Women's Affairs, Education, Religious Affairs, Civil Society Affairs, Sports and Youth, as well as the Department of Foreign Relations, representatives from the Council of Ministers and the Police Department.

For more information please see Nazand Begikhani: A women’s rights activist discusses honour-based crimes