Anti-Corruption course organizers

The European Union Integrated Rule of Law for Iraq and the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council have organized first time in Baghdad, Iraq, two courses on “Investigation of petty corruption and minor financial crimes”.

All thirty-six attendants from the Commission of Integrity, the Ministry of Interior Office of the Inspector General and Judicial Investigators from various Courts in Baghdad, had the possibility to learn new approaches on financial crime investigations and exchange best practices on anti-corruption. Law enforcement and judiciary officers had an opportunity to interact and reflect about their daily activities Trough lecturing sessions, practical exercises and debates a better inter-institutional cooperation was promoted.

Judge Mr Abdulsatar Alberqdar, Spokesman of the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council, considers  “the two trainings have been an innovation in terms of practical focus and training techniques. It is important to highlight the interaction between trainers and trainees.”

EUJUST LEX – Iraq has planned to follow up these training activities and will organize a follow up course on “Investigation of high level corruption.” in 2012. 

In most European Union prisons, part of the outer perimeter protection against escapes from inmates consists of electronic detection equipment designed to alert prison guards in the early stages of escape attempts. The same equipment also serves to guard against unwanted entry of people trying to assist in these possible escapes. As modern equipment is used efficiently, more staff can be assigned to other duties, more directly related to the rehabilitation of inmates  

The European Union Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq and the Iraqi Higher Judicial Council held the First Symposium on Pre-Trial Detention Aspects of Criminal Law.

The Symposium was aimed at a comparative analysis of the Iraqi Criminal Procedure System with some EU civil law countries’ criminal procedure codes.

The event was chaired by the Chief Justice, H.E. Medhat Al-Mahmoud, who pointed out “the relevance for the safeguard of fundamental rights of a criminal procedure strictly adhering to the principle of presumption of innocence till the last stage of the trial”. In this framework the detention has to be meant not as an ordinary remedy but as an exception tool.  

A team of four European judges headed by the former Italian Chief Justice, Mr Giuseppe di Gennaro, drew the attention of the audience “on the value of the criminal procedure for a stable development of a society in which Rule of Law plays a founding role”.

The EUJUST LEX-Iraq Head of Mission, Mr Carl Tornell, underlined “his satisfaction of the prospects of further support to the development of Iraqi criminal procedure” in interviews with Iraqi television.

Around 100 Iraqi and international legal practitioners as well as representatives of the Iraqi relevant institutions animated the lecturing sessions and the successive debate. 

The design of a joint Iraq and international road map for a possible legislative reform process of the Iraqi criminal procedure code came up as a final recommendation of the Symposium.

Course participant in Erbil

This course was the first basic course in Consequence Pedagogic offered in Arabic. The course was planned for 25 participants, but eventually, and due the interest on the topic 32 attended the course held at Susi Federal prison.

The lectures were given by EUJUST LEX  - Iraq expert on penitentiary Sonja Kurtén-Vartio from Erbil office.

 The purpose of the course is to give an idea what is meant with the Consequence Pedagogical learning and working method and to make visible the differences between this learning and working methods and methods that have been used earlier in prison environment.

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�ՙؕ�GB'>A team of four European judges headed by the former Italian Chief Justice, Mr Giuseppe di Gennaro, drew the attention of the audience “on the value of the criminal procedure for a stable development of a society in which Rule of Law plays a founding role”.

The EUJUST LEX-Iraq Head of Mission, Mr Carl Tornell, underlined “his satisfaction of the prospects of further support to the development of Iraqi criminal procedure” in interviews with Iraqi television.

Around 100 Iraqi and international legal practitioners as well as representatives of the Iraqi relevant institutions animated the lecturing sessions and the successive debate. 

The design of a joint Iraq and international road map for a possible legislative reform process of the Iraqi criminal procedure code came up as a final recommendation of the Symposium.

Rule of Law experts assessing the camera needs in the Erbil female and juvenile prison

During 18-25 September two Dutch visiting experts from the Dutch prison service have been conducting a preparatory advising mission to the Kurdish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), responsible for the Kurdistan Region Government (KRG) prisons.

Upon MoLSA request the two Dutch experts conducted a fact finding mission on the Kurdistan Region needs to improve the quality and quantity of the electronic measures, among them: closed Circuit TV systems, electronic detection cables and surveillance equipment, in the existing Kurdish prisons in Erbil, Dohuk and Sulymaniyah. With all necessary information gathered from meetings and prisons visits, the European experts will produce an advice to the MoLSA Director General of prisons to prioritize the installation of said equipment and the required training for the staff operating these detection tools.

A detailed plan on the optimal use of camera's has already been handed to the Kurdish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.

Course session

The course organised by EUJUST LEX-Iraq in Basra is considered as an introduction to the possibilities offered by international judicial cooperation instruments set out in some international conventions, mainly UN Convention on Trans-national Organised Crimes and the UN Convention on Corruption, to which Iraq is party.  The use of these instruments depends very much on an adequate reception of them at the Iraqi national legislation as well as on their knowledge by the Iraqi judiciary and the law enforcement agencies. In this way, the course aims to spread awareness of these tools among the relevant actors.  Two French visiting experts, one judge and one prosecutor lectured in the course.

From July 2011 till June 2012, EUJUST LEX – Iraq has planned to support this training course with a mentoring component aimed at advicing the concerned Iraqi authorities on legislation reform in the area of international judicial cooperation.

The EU Delegation and EUJUST LEX-Iraq, with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized the 1st European Union Day in country at the Ministry  of Foreign Affairs in Baghdad.  

At the event, which was attended by a large high level representation from the Iraqi Government, Iraqi Civil Society and Diplomatic Corp The Head of Mission of EUJUST LEX-Iraq, Mr. Francisco Diaz Alcantud, note that 'the EU strongly supports an Iraq that is committed to guaranty equal rights for all Iraqis and upholding the Rule of Law.

We are looking forward to deepening our cooperation with our Iraqi counterparts in the judiciary, the police and the penitentiary sectors. The presence of our Mission here is an excellent example of the EU's commitment to Iraq.'All the other speakers emphasized the importance of strengthening Iraq's relationship with the European Union.

They also underlined the importance of the EU continuing to provide support to actions aimed at the restoration of security, democracy and rule of law in Iraq, taking Iraqi ownership fully into account. 

Train of trainers: learning by doing

Thirteen police officers and one investigative judge participated in the EUJUST-LEX – Iraq “Train the trainer course” held in Basra. The course can be considered a success and an example of integration, for the first time an Iraqi judge participated in a EUJUST LEX – Iraq training program designed for police officers in Basra.

As an example the lessons given by Iraqi investigative judges about “how to present a criminal case to the court” is always one of the highlights in the “tactical investigation training course”. The EUJUST LEX – Iraq initiative increases the cooperation between the police and the judiciary in Basra.

Lecture provided by visiting experts

EUJUST LEX - Iraq held a 4 day penitentiary course on 'Combating terrorism in prisons' in Baghdad for 25 Iraqi Correctional Service staff. Two visiting experts from the Netherlands and the Czech Republic assisted in delivering lectures on the Iraqi anti-terrorism law, recognition of radicalised inmates, treatment of terrorist detainees and convicts in relation to international minimum prison standards and de-radicalisation programmes to prison wardens, heads of security and senior social workers. The Deputy Head of Mission Carl Tornell and the Iraqi Correctional Service (ICS) Deputy addressed the course participants during the closing ceremony on Wednesday 25th. Four similar courses will be held in Baghdad, Erbil and Basra in the coming months.

Judicial discussions in progress

EUJUST LEX – Iraq Erbil Office host a meeting with the major players from the Judiciary in the Kurdistan Region Government to discuss proposals for EUJUST LEX - Iraq to provide possible support to the future.

Course lecture ongoing

In May, a Dutch visiting expert gave training on how to develop educational system in prisons. This was a follow-up to the training in August 2010 and forms part of the mission’s programme on rehabilitation of juveniles in prisons.

A student receiving her certificate.

In April two 'Social researches in prisons' training courses took place in penal institutions in Kurdistan. The courses were aimed at effective issues of rehabilitation methodologies of juvenile and female offenders. Both courses were attended by staff members of the juvenile and female units of penal institutions in Erbil and Sulaimaniyya.

In an earlier stage, in the summer of 2010, a number of students had already attended a training in which these issues were introduced. Now the training was focused on the implementation in penal practice. In Erbil the training group mainly consisted of social researchers, in Sulaimaniyya the group was more heterogeneous: some social researchers as well as a number of care takers and guards. The attendees in both training courses were enthusiastic and eager to learn.

Col Charles Huguelet presenting US flag to Head of Mission

In a ceremony held at EUJUST LEX–Iraq Headquarters in Baghdad, the flag of the United States of America was presented by the Law & Order Task Force ITAM/LAOTF to Head of Mission in appreciation for EUJUST LEX–Iraq support of the United States military. 

Francisco Diaz Alcantud and Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs

Francisco Diaz Alcantud informed Iraqi Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr.  Hoshyar Zebari  about his permanent deployment to Iraq and the new Mission structure in country. Minister Zebari thanked all the efforts undertaken to increase the Mission’s presence in Iraq, and stated that Eujust Lex - Iraq is a “visible demonstration of the EU’s commitment to building democracy in Iraq”.

Mr. Zebari acknowledged that Iraq “needs to do a better job in the respect and protection of human rights”, and expressed that in such context “what the EU does to improve standards is very healthy for Iraq”.

Website of Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Iraq

Evaluation officers with workshop participants

EUJUST LEX – Iraq Evaluation Officer organised two Evaluation Workshops, one in Erbil on 7 March and other in Soran on 8 March for police officers that had participated the EUJUST LEX-Iraq Domestic Violence course in October 2010. The Evaluation Workshops focussed on the relevance and the applicability of EUJUST LEX-Iraq training and on assessing further training needs.

The Mission received structured feedback from the alumni who considered their training most relevant. Learning about European best practices was helping the alumni to revise their working methodology especially in regard the treatment of Domestic Violence victims. The Workshops were organised in the working place which gave an added value to the feedback.

Aiming to study the living conditions of inmates, a visit to Rusafa prison was organized by EUJUST LEX–Iraq Baghdad Field Office.  During the past month and a half, mission staff  have been collecting toys and toiletries to be donated to the  imprisoned mothers and their children.

Currently there are 365 inmates at the prison – 212 of them awaiting trial. The crimes are various: terrorism, prostitution, theft, kidnapping, fraud and murder. The Children are allowed to stay with their mother until they reach the age of 3 years. After this they will be sent to a family member or to orphanages. The oldest child at the prison is 9 years of age, due to a lack of orphanages in general at the moment.

Putting forward Iraqi experiences during the debates

On behalf of the Kurdistan Region Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs a seminar was held on Combating Terrorism in Prisons. This event was attended by representatives from the three adult prisons run by Ministry of Labour & Social Affairs and senior staff from the Minister headquarters, all together 13 participants.

The first meeting of the Committee on Pre-Trial Detention, comprised of representatives of the Ministries of Justice and of the Interior in Baghdad on one side and experts of the European Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX - Iraq) on the other, was held between 14 and 17 February 2011.

The members of the Committee discussed overcrowding of detention facilities with pre-trail detainees and compared the Iraqi administration of pre-trail detention with that of European systems.

At the conclusion of four days of open and productive discussions the Committee agreed to continue discussions in further meetings to explore possible measures of the Government of Iraq in addressing the overcrowding problem in pre-trial detention facilities.

The members of the Committee are confident that recommendations will provide assistance to the Government of Iraq in its efforts fully to realise best practices and achieve international standards in the pre-trial detention system.

Evaluation Officer presentation

The Mission organised a workshop in Brussels on evaluation of EUJUST LEX-Iraq courses and activities. Several course organisers from different EU MS participated in the event together with Mission staff in order to exchange lessons learned and new ideas concerning measuring participant’s performance, standardising course evaluation and ways to link evaluation with the alumni follow-up.