Closure of the study visit of Officers in Kurdistan region of Iraq Participants in TOT on human rights

As part of a study visit, of group of officers from the Kurdistan region of Iraq followed a training course for trainers (TOT) in human rights. With support of the Swiss Embassy in Amman, The Kurdistan Human Rights Watch (KHRW) in cooperation with the Amman Center for Human Rights, organized this TOT. The training came to its end on Wednesday, March 6 2019, at the Training Hall of the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies in Amman, The study visit was preceded by the implementation of three phases in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan.

The TOT course aimed to rehabilitate military personnel as trainers for human rights. The training included several stages; Practical training – to enable participants to acquire skills and knowledge of relevant international human rights conventions, enabling them to identify techniques to diagnose violations and complaints on the ground. Theoretical training – Gaining knowledge on legal terms and concepts, including detailed explanations of the basic concepts of human rights, transparency and credibility in relation to the duties and nature of work of the military. In addition, they have also been briefed on training topics related to international conventions, international humanitarian law and national mechanisms for the protection of human rights.

The training, which was held in Amman, included field visits to the National Center for Human Rights, the Directorate of Moral Guidance in the Jordanian Armed Forces, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Political Development, and the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies. The focus was to learn about the experience of these organizations and their national role related to the protection of human rights. In addition, the researches conducted by the participants were discussed at the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies.  

After the visits, the participants expressed their gratitude towards the trainings and the meetings held. Despite the short period of time, the participants stressed out that they gained a lot of knowledge that will impact their work positively and further enhance their ability to deal with human rights issues in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The official representative of the training from Kurdistan, Mr. Horaz Ismail, expressed his deep appreciation and praised all Jordanian organizations involved that were willing to receive them. Furthermore, there is a clear desire of his organization to continue cooperation with relevant Jordanian institutions with the intention to sign bilateral memorandums of understanding, supporting the work of jurists dealing with human rights issues and violations faced by refugees in the camps.

The trainee Zirin Ahmed Hadar, one of the beneficiaries of the course, explained the extent to which she benefited professionally. Her skills will help her to adapt topics, use appropriate terminology, and identify mechanisms to deal with problems related to human rights violations occurring in society.

The organizers of the course praised the commitment and the involvement of the trainers during the training. Hence, they all completed the necessary elements to pass the courses, which can be the basis to activate their role as qualified trainers on human rights conventions.

In his turn, Dr. Nizam Assaf, Director of the Amman Center for Human Rights, said during the closing ceremony that the Amman Center is keen to develop bilateral relations with human rights organizations in Iraq and in the Kurdistan region and expressed the willingness of the Center to provide all that is possible.

The course, which was attended by 16 trainees representing a number of army units in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, was based on the importance of the role of the army in the promotion and protection of human rights among all segments of society. At the end of the session, the participants presented their research at the Amman Center for Human Rights Studies.

Upon completion of the course, all participants received certificates for the trainings and field study visits of this course.