KRG's Dindar Zebari and US Consul General Steve Bitner Discuss Human Rights and Public Freedoms
On Monday, Dr. Dindar Zebari, the Kurdistan Region’s Coordinator for International Advocacy, met with Steve Bitner, the newly appointed US Consul General in Erbil, to discuss the protection of public freedoms and adherence to human rights principles in the Kurdistan Region.
Dr. Zebari extended a warm welcome to Consul General Bitner and his delegation, emphasizing the strong and ongoing collaboration between the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and the US Consulate. He highlighted the consistent exchange of human rights information, which has been a key component of the US State Department's annual reports on human rights and religious freedoms.
During the meeting, Dr. Zebari underscored the KRG's ongoing reform efforts and the government's progress in various aspects of good governance. He pointed out the Kurdistan Regional Government's Human Rights Plan (2011-2025), which was approved by the ninth cabinet, noting that the implementation rate of the plan's international recommendations has reached 74.1 percent, reflecting the KRG's strong commitment to upholding human rights.
سررتُ اليوم الاثنين 2 أيلول 2024، باستقبال القنصل العام للولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لدى أربيل، السيد ستيف بيتنر، والوفد المرافق له، في مكتب منسق التوصيات الدولية.
— Dr. Dindar Zebari (@KRG_Coordinator) September 2, 2024
خلال اللقاء، ناقشنا الموضوعات التي تهم مكتبنا، بما في ذلك خطة حقوق الإنسان لحكومة إقليم كوردستان ومستوى تنفيذها. pic.twitter.com/hp4x0lnzpJ
US Consul General Steve Bitner praised the advancements in the Kurdistan Region, despite the significant challenges faced by the KRG. He reaffirmed the United States' commitment to continued cooperation on these critical issues.
Dr. Zebari also highlighted the importance of coordination with the federal government on human rights matters. He noted that the KRG's Office of the Coordinator for International Advocacy has participated in the Federal Government’s delegation to the United Nations, providing an opportunity to showcase the KRG's achievements as a model of good governance and progress within a federal Iraq. This collaboration has had a positive impact on federal government reports.
Significant topics discussed during the meeting included the suspension of the death penalty in the Kurdistan Region and the KRG's policy of facilitating the voluntary and dignified return of refugees to their homelands, which have received international recognition.
CG Steve Bitner met with @KRG_Coordinator for International Advocacy Dr. Dindar Zebari today to discuss shared efforts to advance human rights and religious freedom. The CG underscored the #United_States’ commitment to collaboration on these important issues. pic.twitter.com/ewpNP7Y73A
— U.S. Consulate General Erbil (@USCGERBIL) September 3, 2024
The conversation also covered the completion of the United Nations Team to Investigate the Crimes of ISIS (UNITAD) mission and the transfer of documents detailing ISIS crimes in Erbil and Duhok to the KRG. Additionally, discussions addressed the ongoing efforts to combat drugs and psychotropic substances, acknowledging the challenges the KRG faces in this area.
Dr. Zebari concluded the meeting by reiterating the KRG's unwavering commitment to collaborating closely with the US Consulate General to protect public freedoms and uphold human rights principles throughout the Kurdistan Region.
