Sema
“We have been addressing these changes through the implementation of projects based on seven strategic principles known as ‘RESPECT,’ prioritizing the elimination of violence and establishment of peace and security,” the Minister stated.
During a campaign event addressing violence against women on Monday, Kurdistan Region’s Interior Minister Reber Ahmed announced that “under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s directive, perpetrators of femicide will not be eligible for general amnesty.”
Speaking at the event, Ahmed revealed that “more than 2,500 Yazidi women remain in ISIS captivity, whom we haven’t yet been able to rescue. However, government institutions, under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s direct supervision, are working tirelessly to secure their freedom and return them to Kurdistan and their families.”
The Interior Minister highlighted global challenges affecting women’s security, noting that “the world faces numerous humanitarian and environmental crises, with climate change directly impacting women’s security.”
He outlined the Kurdistan Regional Government’s (KRG) ninth cabinet’s initiatives, explaining that “we have been addressing these changes through the implementation of projects based on seven strategic principles known as ‘RESPECT,’ prioritizing the elimination of violence and establishment of peace and security.”
Ahmed emphasized the coordinated efforts among various institutions, stating that “there is excellent coordination between the High Council of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs’ Directorate of Anti-Violence, civil society organizations, and international agencies, all working together for better outcomes.”
The Minister also noted several practical steps taken by the ninth cabinet to combat violence against women, including measures implemented by the General Secretariat of the High Council of Women Affairs, police units, courts, and social counselors.
“Most importantly,” Ahmed stressed, “under Prime Minister Masrour Barzani’s directive, perpetrators of femicide will not be eligible for general amnesty. Police units have been instructed not to miss any opportunity to arrest and bring perpetrators to justice for their legal punishment.”
The Kurdistan Region has implemented various measures to combat violence against women, including specific legislation and the establishment of dedicated institutions.
The announcement regarding the exclusion of femicide perpetrators from general amnesty represents a significant step in strengthening these protections.
The region continues to work on the rescue and rehabilitation of Yazidi women who were captured by ISIS during the terrorist group’s invasion in 2014.