Erbil, Kurdistan Region of Iraq- The Parliamentarians Workshop, held from 14 to 15 November 2024 in Erbil, had the primary objective of facilitating a detailed discussion on recent amendments to Iraq’s law on combating trafficking in persons (TIP) and Iraq draft law on the smuggling of migrants (SOM). These amendments, approved by the Iraqi Council of State at the request of the Ministries of Interior and Migration and Displacement, represent a critical step toward addressing the pressing issues of human trafficking and migrant smuggling. These crimes increasingly threaten the safety and dignity of individuals, particularly in Iraq and the broader region.
At the heart of these amendments is a strong focus on ensuring justice for victims and imposing stricter deterrents on perpetrators. The proposed legal provisions are designed to:
The strengthening of these legal measures aims not only to protect vulnerable individuals but also to send a strong message to criminals involved in such illicit activities, underscoring the government’s zero-tolerance approach to these crimes.
The ultimate goal of this workshop was to expedite the final approval and voting on these crucial laws by both the Iraqi Council of Ministers and Parliament. This proactive approach will contribute significantly to Iraq’s ongoing efforts to protect its citizens and enhance its global stance on combating these severe crimes.
Participants in the workshop included Iraqi Parliament members, representatives from the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Office, the Iraqi State Council, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior, the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council, the Iraqi High Commission for Human Rights, and UNODC.
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The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is implementing the European Union-(EU) funded PROTECT initiative within the framework of GLO.ACT across Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. This initiative also addresses challenges in the broader Central Asia region, including the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, with a primary focus on enhancing the effectiveness of responses to trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM), particularly in relation to criminal justice. Meanwhile, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD) is responsible for implementing the PROTECT initiative in Afghanistan (specifically through virtual MRC Afghanistan), Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Their primary objectives include improving gender-sensitive and rights-based migration governance at the national level and establishing Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs).
The project is funded by the European Union.
For more information, please contact:
Martin Reeve (Mr.), GLO.ACT Coordinator, Human Trafficking and Migrant Smuggling Section, UNODC
Email: martin.reeve@un.org
Golda Myra ROMA (Ms.), Senior Project Manager, ICMPD Silk Routes Region – Budapest Process
Email: Golda.Roma@icmpd.org