Conclusion of training of trainers (TOT) on Human Rights for he police officers of the Iraqi Kurdist

conclusion of the training of trainers (TOT) on human rights for the police officers of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, organized by the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies [ACHRS] and the Popular Aid Organization (PAO) in cooperation with the Norwegian Popular Aid (NPA) and the Ministry of Interior/ Government of the Iraqi Kurdistan region. Twelve police officers of the various police sections participated in the 10-day session.

The session included training on the international criteria of the freedom of expression, the role of the judicial branch of government in bolstering human rights, the international convention on anti-torture and other harsh, brutal or insulting penalties (CAT). It also included the successful methods in communications, the training process, the drawing up of a general framework for a training plan, skills of presentation of training, and handling of embarrassing situations.

After completing their training, the participants made presentations of training sessions on the guarantees provided by the Iraqi law for the defense of the defendants during their interrogation as well as the guarantees of the rights of the adversaries in the criminal lawsuit. The presentations also included the rights of defendants in the Shar’iah (Religious Law) and the civil law, the rights of the arrested persons between theory and practice, the freedom of opinion and expression, and the right to life from the standpoint of the Islamic Shari’ah. The presentations also discussed the guaranteeing of the rights of the adolescent, forms of violence against women in Kurdistan, the international criteria of the rights of prisoners, and human rights guarantees during interrogation. They finally included the work of police in light of the human rights principles, and saving lives and rendering aid during natural disasters.  

The training was carried out by Dr Muhammad El Tarawneh, journalist Yahya Shuqayr, attorney Manhal Al Sidah, ACHRS Director Dr Nizam Assaf, and director of the Popular Aid Organization (PAO), attorney Hogr Cheto.

At the end of the training session, ACHRS Director General, Dr Nizam Assaf; and Director General of the Popular Aid Organization (PAO), attorney Hawker Gatto, handed over the graduation certificates to the male and female graduates.

It is noteworthy that the ACHRS and the Popular Aid Organization (PAO) have been linked with a strategic cooperation agreement for the last five years. The two took the initiative together to form the Iraqi League of Human Rights Trainers in 2007 and the Iraqi Alliance of the Human Rights Organizations in 2009. This session is the 17th session in the series of the training of trainers on human rights which was held by the ACHRS ever since it was established 10 years ago. A total of 250 male and female participants from 12 Arab countries participated in these sessions.