The International Nuremberg Principles Academy took part in a high-level workshop dedicated to advancing the legal framework for prosecuting international crimes in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 8 May 2025. Representing the Academy was Dr Gurgen Petrossian, Senior Officer for International Criminal Law.
The workshop, organised by the Kurdish Center for International Law in Erbil, focused on the Draft Law on International Crimes, which aims to enable the Kurdistan Region to prosecute perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes. Despite the grave atrocities committed by ISIS against the Kurdish and Yazidi populations, the region currently lacks the necessary legal instruments to pursue accountability through its own courts.
Following opening remarks by Hawre Ahmed, Executive Director of the Kurdish Centre for International Law, Dr Mohammed Rashid and Dr Twana Hassan presented the contents of the draft law to newly elected members of the Kurdistan Parliament. In his speech, Dr Gurgen Petrossian emphasised the crucial need for a solid legal foundation to prosecute international crimes. He highlighted comparative examples from other jurisdictions applying the principle of universal jurisdiction, and underlined the importance of regional cooperation, noting that potential partners can be found not only in Europe but also within the region itself.
The Nuremberg Academy reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening international legal standards and supporting local initiatives aimed at ending impunity for the most serious human rights violations (gp).