The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) launched a new international partnership forum focused on human rights reforms. Senior Kurdish officials, diplomats, UN representatives, and civil society organizations attended the event in Erbil on Saturday.
The Office of the Coordinator for International Recommendations organized the forum in partnership with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF). Officials described the initiative as a major step toward implementing international recommendations between 2025 and 2029.
During the forum, KRG Coordinator for International Recommendations Dindar Zebari said the Kurdistan Region continues to prioritize human rights. He also highlighted directives issued by Kurdistan Region Prime Minister Masrour Barzani.
According to Zebari, the directives place citizens at the center of government policies. They also encourage institutions to align their systems with international standards.
Zebari explained that the KRG reviewed existing laws and introduced new measures to strengthen human rights protections. These reforms target both administrative and judicial institutions across the Kurdistan Region.
Officials presented new figures during the forum. They said the Kurdistan Region implemented 62.3% of international recommendations issued between 2022 and 2025. Another 21.6% remain under implementation. Unimplemented recommendations dropped to 16.1%.
Zebari also revealed that his office introduced 10 practical measures through the Council of Ministers. The measures aim to accelerate work on international recommendations.
He stressed that strong human rights protections require security, economic stability, and reliable public services. He added that reforms need a stable economy capable of supporting citizens’ rights and aspirations.
The forum also focused on improving coordination between government institutions, UN agencies, diplomatic missions, and civil society organizations. Participants discussed ways to strengthen implementation mechanisms and institutional capacity.
In his closing remarks, Zebari called on international organizations to expand technical and institutional support for the Kurdistan Region. He said additional expertise would help institutions address ongoing challenges more effectively.
The United Nations established the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism in 2006. The process reviews the human rights records of member states every four years. The Kurdistan Region has participated as part of Iraq’s delegation since 2010, including the latest session in 2025.