UNAMI-HRO Human Rights Training for Police Officers in Halabja

The training course on 29 and 30 August, entitled “Rights of Persons Under Investigation,” is part of a series of activities by UNAMI HRO to support regional institutions and civil society organizations in protecting and promoting human rights in the Kurdistan Region. The course was attended by 40 officers (39 men and one woman) from the Halabja Directorate of Police.

The training course examined general principles and concepts of human rights law, including United Nations reporting and review mechanisms and state obligations. It also addressed the rights of detained persons under international, Iraqi, and Kurdistan Regional law, and the role of police in protecting the rights of freedom of expression and assembly.

In opening remarks, Mr. Eric Husketh of the UNAMI Human Rights Office, expressed the hope that the training course would help participants to see human rights law as a tool, and the United Nations as a partner, to perform their important work to the highest standards.

The Head of the Halabja City Center Police Department, Mr. Barzan Othman Mohammed, said that the training course was crucial to spread awareness among the police and to improve their skills. “It is important for us to learn best practices for the treatment of detainees and develop our awareness of important human rights discussed in the training. As our governorate police are very new, we need UNAMI’s support and training and are grateful for UNAMI coming to Halabja.”