KRG OCIA and U.S. Consulate Review Kurdistan Region's Response to UPR Recommendations

On Wednesday, 7 May 2025, Steven Bitner, United States Consul General in the Kurdistan Region, received Dindar Zebari, Coordinator of the Office of International Advocacy (OCIA) for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The meeting focused on key human rights and freedom issues, including the advancement and protection of women's rights, the safeguarding of freedom of expression, countering hate speech, the implementation of the KRG’s Human Rights Plan (2021–2025), and efforts to combat narcotics.
Zebari provided an overview of the preparation and implementation of the Human Rights Plan, outlining the procedures and measures adopted in accordance with international standards and recommendations. He noted the substantial progress across all areas, particularly regarding the enactment of legislation, the issuance of guidelines, and the actions taken by relevant KRG institutions.
The Coordinator also highlighted the Kurdistan Region’s participation in the 48th session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in Geneva, during which 96 countries presented 279 recommendations to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. He noted that several countries commended the KRG for measures such as the suspension of the death penalty, the protection of religious and ethnic minority rights, and the promotion of women’s active participation in governance and decision-making processes.
Furthermore, Zebari affirmed that the KRG values the reports issued by international organisations and bodies, including the U.S. State Department’s annual report and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom’s findings. He emphasised the ongoing coordination on the exchange of information, which has contributed to a more accurate and comprehensive understanding of the human rights situation in the Kurdistan Region.