Iraqi Parliment Representatives Learning From Kosovo's* Experience in Reparations of Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
From December 11-15, 2019, IOM Kosovo in coordination with IOM Baghdad has organized a study visit of a high level delegation of the Council of representatives of the Republic of Iraq - Iraqi Parliament to Kosovo as part of IOM ongoing efforts to support Iraqi institutions in process of designing and implementing reparation program for survivors of conflict-related sexual violence committed by ISIL terror group in Iraq. Iraqi Parliament is currently considering Draft Law on Support to Female Yazidi Survivors (Draft Law), submitted by President of Iraq in April 2019. Intention of the drafters was to provide official acknowledgment and reparations to hundreds of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from Yazidi and other ethnic minorities, through comprehensive program of reparations. The Draft Law foresees various forms of redress, including compensation, rehabilitation, support in education and employment etc.
As Kosovo is one of the few countries with specialized normative framework and institutions dealing with reparations for survivors of conflict related sexual violence, we strongly believe experience and insights of Kosovo counterparts can advance Iraqi Parliament members’ understanding of key aspects of design and implementation of such complex and sensitive legislative frameworks. Among other issues, delegation of the Parliament benefited from learning about consultative process with survivors and other actors before adoption of the law, key considerations which led to adopted model of verification of claims, key challenges in the implementation of the law, institutional coordination, outreach to survivors, etc.
Delegation consisted of 12 members and advisors of four relevant committees of the Iraqi Parliament (Committee for Human Rights, Committee for Labor, Social Affairs and Displacement, Committee for Women Affairs, and Committee for Legal Affairs). During their visit to Kosovo they met with number of counterparts including :
- Members of the relevant Kosovo Parliamentary Commissions
- The Agency for Gender Equality at the PM Office:
- General secretary of the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare’
- Ex President Ms. Atifete Jahjaga
- The Government Commission to recognize and verify survivors of sexual violence during the Kosovo conflict
- NGOs : QKRMT, Medica Gjakova, Medica Kosova and QPDG
